Paul Skenes is one of the biggest faces of baseball, with the right-hander emerging as a legitimate superstar for a team desperately in need of an ace.
The Pirates, however, might just value Skenes’ possible assets in a trade more.
“Trade Paul Skenes? The Pittsburgh Pirates should build around Paul Skenes,” Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic. “Still, the idea is fascinating, and for a team so far away from contention, perfectly rational, considering the risk of injury for any pitcher. But such a deal would require the Pirates to demonstrate three qualities they rarely display — nerve, creativity and savvy.”
Rosenthal went even further, naming a comparison for Skenes in a trade package — the Nationals deal for Juan Soto.
“In 2022, outfielder Juan Soto was under club control for three pennant races when he and first baseman Josh Bell brought the Washington Nationals a monstrous return from the San Diego Padres: outfielder James Wood, left-hander MacKenzie Gore and shortstop CJ Abrams; outfielder Robert Hassell III, pitcher Jarlin Susana and first baseman Luke Voit.”
“Skenes is under club control for five pennant races. To justify the move, the Pirates would need to beat the return for Soto, and not by a little. Even if contenders were willing to empty their farm systems for Skenes, as they almost certainly would be, how many would even have enough talent to make a deal happen?”