The Pittsburgh Pirates have little to be excited about this season. They have struggled over the first two months and find themselves in last place in the NL Central with a record of 22-38. They are well off pace of the 76 wins they achieved last season, and the firing of their manager suggests that this team will likely not regain contention.
Despite the team’s struggles, starting pitcher Paul Skenes has continued to dominate. He remains a leading candidate for the NL Cy Young award and is showing no signs of a sophomore slump. However, many people are starting to discuss the possibility of Skenes being traded by the Pirates at some point. But will they?
MLB Insider Says Pirates Are Not Trading Paul Skenes
There has been some speculation about the Pirates eventually trading Skenes, but ESPN insider Jeff Passan said there is no current interest in moving him.
On the Pat McAfee Show, Passan stated, “The Pittsburgh Pirates have no intention of trading Paul Skenes at this point… Paul Skenes does not reach free agency for another five years.”
“The Pittsburgh Pirates have no intention of trading Paul Skenes at this point..
Paul Skenes doesn’t reach free agency for another five years” ~ @JeffPassan #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/G7nLNhOSKf
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 2, 2025
Skenes’ extended team control makes him one of baseball’s most valuable assets. Passan mentioned that he spoke with a general manager about what it would take to acquire Skenes, and the response was a hypothetical package involving 10 players. However, no team is expected to meet such a steep asking price at this time. It may be a few years before any trade possibility becomes realistic.
Historically, the Pirates have been reluctant to spend significantly on player salaries. However, Skenes could be the rare exception they consider a priority for a long-term commitment. Whether they keep or move him will be a crucial signal of the team’s competitive aspirations.
Pirates Keeping Cornerstone Players Such as Oneil Cruz
Turning to the team’s other young star, the Pirates reportedly have no plans to trade shortstop Oneil Cruz either. These two players are seen as the foundational pieces of their future.
Cruz is having one of the better seasons of his career, though he is not leading the league in stolen bases as some have claimed. As of early June, Cruz ranks third in MLB with 20 stolen bases and is hitting .226 with 12 home runs and 26 RBIs.
The Pirates have not reached the postseason since 2015, and without greater investment in their roster, their playoff drought is likely to continue.