Baseball's Bright Star: Why Pittsburgh Won't Trade Paul Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in a tough spot. Their season has been rough, and they recently let go of their manager, Derek Shelton. Fans are buzzing about the possibility of trading their star pitcher, Paul Skenes. However, any talk of trading Skenes seems to be more about wishful thinking than reality. Skenes is a big deal. He was the top pick in the 2023 draft and quickly became one of the best pitchers in the game. He started the All-Star Game last season, won the NL Rookie of the Year award, and was a finalist for the Cy Young Award. His stats are impressive: a 2. 12 ERA, ranking fourth in strikeout rate, and leading in several other key categories. He's clearly an ace, and the Pirates know it. The Pirates had hoped to keep Skenes in the minors a bit longer to avoid giving him a full year of service time. But that plan didn't work out. Skenes got that full year of service, and the Pirates' record didn't improve. Now, Skenes is under team control through the 2029 season. If he stays healthy, he's set to make a lot of money in arbitration and free agency. Some people think the Pirates should trade Skenes now, while his value is high. But trading him anytime soon doesn't seem likely. The Pirates are holding onto him for now, hoping he can help build a competitive team in the future. They see him as a key part of their pitching staff, along with other talented arms. The Pirates have a history of not spending big on players. They've never given out a contract larger than Bryan Reynolds' seven-year, $100MM extension. Extending Skenes would require a massive contract, which seems unlikely given the team's spending habits. So, while a trade might happen eventually, it's not on the table right now. Skenes is a huge draw for the team, both in ticket sales and merchandise. The Pirates are counting on him to help bring in fans and build a winning team. They understand that trading him now would mean losing out on his potential to lead them to success. So, for now, the Pirates are keeping their star pitcher and hoping for the best.