MLB insider: This AL playoff team best positioned to land Paul Skenes in blockbuster trade

Yahoo

10-07-2025

It seems it's a matter of when — not if — the Pittsburgh Pirates trade superstar pitcher Paul Skenes. While it won't be this year, teams will be checking in with the struggling Pirates since they are failing to build around the reigning National League Rookie of the Year. But what would it take to pry Skenes away and what team has the best prospects to do so?
ESPN MLB insider David Schoenfield believes the Detroit Tigers have the best farm system to get a blockbuster deal done for the two-time All-Star.
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Schoenfield proposes the Tigers trade No. 8 overall prospect Max Clark, 11th-ranked prospect Kevin McGonigle, pitchers Jackson Jobe and Sawyer Gipson-Long and infielder Colt Keith to pair Skenes with 2024 American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
'It will take one of the best farm systems in the sport to acquire Skenes, and Detroit is incredibly well positioned to make this kind of deal, with depth at both the major league and minor league levels, not to mention a payroll with only one expensive long-term commitment in Javier Baez,' writes Schoenfield. 'Two of the top prospects in the sport in Clark and McGonigle headline this trade, with both currently excelling in High-A ball. Clark, a speedy center fielder, has a .429 OBP with more walks than strikeouts, and McGonigle is hitting .373 with a high contact rate and OPS over 1.100. Former top pitching prospect Jobe underwent Tommy John surgery in June and would be a nice inclusion for the Pirates to gamble on.'
Even though the Tigers would have to give up a significant haul, it wouldn't leave their minor league system barren as they still have No. 22 prospect Bryce Rainer, as well as infielders Josue Briceño and Thayron Liranzo and pitchers Jaden Hamm, Owen Hall and Troy Melton.
Skenes is controllable through 2029 and becomes arbitration eligible for the first time in 2027. If the Pirates were willing to move Skenes, the Tigers would have Skenes and Skubal as their dynamic duo through at least the 2027 season.
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Even though Skenes' strikeout numbers are down compared to 2024, he remains elite. He tops the NL in ERA (1.94), ERA+ (220) and home runs allowed per nine (0.4), while leading baseball in pitcher bWAR at 4.8.
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