Paul Skenes has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the MLB. After one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, Skenes has picked up right where he left off, putting up a 2.44 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 16 walks and 62 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.
Despite Skenes producing like an NL Cy Young candidate, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to struggle, starting the year with a 16-33 record. To put that into perspective, only the Chicago White Sox (15-34) and Colorado Rockies (8-40) have been worse.
The Pirates’ toiling at the bottom of the standings has resulted in trade speculation. Many wonder if Pittsburgh would look to cash in on Skenes and get some younger players to kickstart their window. However, a recent report from a popular MLB insider has quickly ended these rumors.
Jon Heyman Shuts Down Paul Skenes Trade Rumors
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman calmed Pirates fans’ fears of a blockbuster trade involving Skenes, reporting:
Pirates source: Paul Skenes is not getting traded. “No chance, no way, no how,” is the way I heard it. While there’s a bit of logic to such a scenario, superstars just aren’t traded by anyone with 1 year service time and the Pirates remain determined to build around Skenes.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman)
Heyman’s report from his Pirates source that rejected the idea of the Pirates’ pitcher getting traded makes a lot of sense. Why would a rebuilding team trade its 22-year-old ace? Skenes isn’t eligible to become a free agent until 2030. The Pirates have plenty of time to build a contending team within this window.
How to Fix the Pirates
The biggest issue with the Pirates is ownership, which doesn’t spend enough to put a better product on the field. According to Spotrac, Pittsburgh currently ranks 27th in active payroll, so putting more money into the team to build this roster would be helpful. Perhaps adding a bat or two to ignite a lethargic offense to help build around Skenes would do the trick.
The good news is that help is on the way for Skenes and the Pirates, as top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler is getting close to being called to the majors. This is a 22-year-old flame-throwing righty who has put up a 2.17 ERA at Triple-A so far. Skenes and Chandler would form an intriguing tandem at the top of the rotation for years to come.
Skenes’ Outlook
Even if it’s tough to see the Pirates turning things around this season, Skenes remains a favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award. He’s expected to be with the team for at least three to four years. But these trade rumors should serve as a wake-up call for the front office. It’s time to try to win, or risk losing one of baseball’s most talented young pitchers.