In the midst of swirling trade speculation, Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ promising young pitcher, remains unfazed. The Pirates are slogging through yet another tough season, and rumors about trading Skenes for a haul of prospects to boost the team’s offense just won’t go away.
Skenes and Pirates’ General Manager Ben Cherington have both publicly dismissed the idea. They keep emphasizing the pitcher’s value and his long-term potential with the team.
Paul Skenes, who turns 23 this week, has carved out a name for himself in Major League Baseball. With a 2.36 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings, he’s shown real prowess on the mound—even if his 3-5 record doesn’t quite reflect that.
The Pirates’ lineup gives him the lowest run support in MLB, which drags down his win-loss numbers. Still, his performance stands out as a bright spot.
Despite all the trade chatter, Skenes stays locked in on his game. He says living in the public eye, partly thanks to his relationship with social-media influencer and former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunn, has helped him handle the pressure.
Skenes, named the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, has shown unusual maturity. He says he doesn’t really feel any strong emotions about the trade rumors swirling around him.
Ben Cherington, the Pirates’ General Manager, doesn’t mince words about the trade talk. He laughs off the idea and says trading Skenes is not part of the conversation at all.
Cherington wants to build a winning team and believes Skenes is a huge part of that vision. There’s no sign he’s budging on that.
Skenes is under team control until 2030 and will stay cost-effective at least until he hits arbitration in 2027. That long-term control makes him a valuable piece for the Pirates as they try to rebuild.
Cherington seems set on developing homegrown talent like Skenes. Trading him away for short-term gains just doesn’t fit the plan.
Even though Cherington and Skenes have brushed off the trade rumors, analysts and fans can’t stop speculating. Some think trading Skenes could bring in a serious haul of prospects to help the Pirates’ struggling offense.
But honestly, that would be a massive gamble. Skenes’ potential and the team’s long-term plans make the idea risky at best.
The idea of trading a young, talented pitcher like Skenes has set off endless debates online. Fans love to play armchair General Manager, tossing out trade scenarios they think would fix everything.
Skenes doesn’t pay much attention to these discussions. He’d rather focus on his game than get caught up in what-ifs.
One thing really hurting Skenes’ win-loss record is the lack of run support from the Pirates’ lineup. His ERA and strikeout numbers look great, but the team just can’t seem to score when he’s on the mound.
If the Pirates want to make the most of Skenes’ talent, they’ve got to find a way to boost the offense. That’s just the reality.
The Pirates have one of the lowest run support rates in MLB, and it’s showing up in Skenes’ record. Fixing this issue is absolutely necessary if the team wants to succeed.
Trading Skenes for offensive prospects is one possible move, but it comes with big risks. His potential and long-term team control make that a tough sell.
The Pirates are staring down their sixth straight losing season, which only fuels the speculation about roster changes. But Skenes and Cherington still sound optimistic about what comes next.
They believe that with the right approach and player development, the team can turn things around. It’s not going to be easy, but they’re not giving up hope.
Cherington stays focused on building a winning team, and he sees Skenes as a key part of that plan. By developing homegrown talent and making smart moves, the Pirates want a team that can actually compete—maybe even sooner than people think.
Skenes’ performance and potential make him a cornerstone for the future. If the Pirates can get the rest of the pieces in place, who knows? Maybe this long rebuild will finally pay off.
Conclusion
Trade rumors just won’t leave Paul Skenes alone, but he’s still front and center for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Both Skenes and General Manager Ben Cherington have brushed off the idea of a trade, keeping their eyes on building a winning team instead.
Skenes is under team control until 2030, and he’s been turning heads with his performance on the mound.
The Pirates clearly have something special in him as they try to turn things around. For the full story, check out the New York Post.
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