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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ben Cherington Silences Paul Skenes Trade Rumors: 'Not Part of the Conversation'
With the Pittsburgh Pirates continuing to dive into a downward spiral, rumors have surrounded superstar pitcher and reigning National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes as he embarks on yet another strong season. Baseball fans have salivated at the possibility of Skenes going to a contender and playing an ace-level role on a playoff team. Advertisement One National League executive, in a report by Mark Feinsand, said that a Skenes trade would "likely be as significant a trade return as we've ever seen." In a press briefing, however, Ben Cherington, the general manager of the Pirates, poured cold water on any rumors around their ace. Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Citizens Bank Ross - Imagn Images "No. It's not at all part of the conversation," Cherington said, per Alex Stumpf, who reports on the Pirates. Any rumors around Skenes, who has six controllable seasons ahead of him, seemed to always be a pipe dream. Even despite any concrete evidence of any trade talks, Bleacher Report simulated trades for Skenes this year. Advertisement A trade to the beleaguered Baltimore Orioles revolved around Grayson Rodriguez, and a trade to the Boston Red Sox centered around No. 1 overall prospect Roman Anthony. Despite the possibility that a Skenes trade could significantly bolster the Pirates' roster without necessarily beefing up their already emaciated payroll, the Pirates are clearly holding firm. The Pirates seem to be playing a game where they refuse to surround Skenes with a competitive roster, but won't pony up the money to extend him, in what has to be one of the most frustrating strategies in recent history. One can only feel bad for Pirates fans. Related: Yankees Announcer Rips Pirates for Failing Paul Skenes Related: Blockbuster Paul Skenes Trade Takes 'Depressing' New Turn Related: Paul Skenes Makes Huge WBC Announcement After Latest Loss Ben Cherington Silences Paul Skenes Trade Rumors: 'Not Part of the Conversation' first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Pittsburgh Pirates' Ace Paul Skenes Shrugs Off Unfounded Trade Talk
National League 2024 Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes continues to deliver. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) As might be expected from a pitcher who throws 100 mph, Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes took the high road when he found himself the subject of trade rumors. 'It doesn't affect anything,' Skenes said. 'Anybody can play GM.' The Pirates seem to understand how ludicrous it would be to trade Skenes at this point, less than two years into his major league career that includes the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year award and a start in the 2024 All-Star Game. 'It's not part of the conversation at all,' Pirates' general manager Ben Cherington said. There are many ways to build a pennant contender, and they can vary by market size and financial means. History indicates the Pirates would be best served by keeping Skenes and fitting pieces around him rather than vice versa. They tried it the other way with Gerrit Cole. It did not work. "He's definitely a guy you want to build around,' Pirates interim manager Don Kelly said after Skenes threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 10-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. 'No doubt. Paul Skenes, they don't come around … ever. There are few pitchers like that.' Kelly knows the type. He played with legitimate aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer during the Detroit Tigers' postseason runs in 2011-1014, and he noted the similarities between those two Hall of Fame candidates and Skenes. Verlander won the AL Cy Young award in 2011 and was second in 2012. Scherzer won it in 2013 and won consecutive NL Cy Youngs after being traded to Washington in 2016-17. Scherzer is one of seven pitchers to win it in both leagues. 'That's what you see in Paul, that type of guy,' Kelly said. 'If he continues to develop, continues to grow. He's a pitcher, not a thrower. Just the way he works.' Not that keeping him would not stretch the budget. Skenes, 23 today, has five more years of team control, two when his contract can be unilaterally renewed before three more of arbitration. If Skenes continues on his current same path, he certainly would challenge or break the record arbitration award for major league pitchers of $13.5 million, which was set by Cole in 2019 and met by Max Fried in 2023. Skenes has made quality starts in 10 of his 12 appearances this season, including eight of the last nine. His ERA fell to 2.15 Wednesday, and he is 4-5 because of limited run support. 'When he is on, he is on, and we know as a club if we can just score one run, we're gong to be in a good place,' Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen said. 'We've probably taken that a little too literally this year. He's a special talent.' Skenes struck out Bryce Harper on four fastballs in the first inning of a 1-0, complete game loss to Philadelphia to May 18. All four were at least 98.9 mph, according to Statcast, and Harper swung through a 99.7 fastball to end the at-bat. Skenes is as physically imposing — 6-foot-5, 260 — as his numbers. The Pirates have been in this position before, albeit late in their star pitcher's career. Cole, like Skenes, was the first overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Pirates. They traded him to Houston before the 2018 season for a package that included Joe Musgrove and three others. Finances were the driver. Cole had one year of arbitration eligibility remaining at the time of the deal, and the small-spending Pirates saw it as fiscally prudent. They were right on that side. Cole has made $337.5 million since. The Pirates' payroll this season is $90 million. Cole has built a Hall of Fame resume in the seven-plus seasons since that deal, and Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in San Diego history after being traded as part of another Pirates' roster renovation. How the Pirates handle their ace this time, time will tell. 'We have a good core for sure and a good opportunity to do something in Pittsburgh,' Skenes said. 'We saw it last year for a good part of the year. Just have to keep going.' As for the future? 'I don't know,' he said. 'Just here and now.' The Pittsburgh Pirates will have four more years of control of ace Paul Skenes after this season. ... More (Photo by)
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Pirates don't want to trade Paul Skenes. But they'd have to weigh these 5 prospect packages
The Pittsburgh Pirates have no plans to trade Paul Skenes. That's what they're saying publicly, through their general manager, Ben Cherington, and what they're making clear to other teams behind the scenes. But that doesn't mean they won't listen to inquiries and perform their due diligence, in case they're overwhelmed by a franchise-changing offer. Advertisement Skenes, 22, would be the most valuable trade asset in decades because he has more than four years of team control remaining and is the hardest type of player to acquire in the major leagues: a true ace, face of the franchise and fan-favorite. As if that weren't enough, Skenes is making $740,000 this year, won't be arbitration-eligible until 2027, and even in arbitration is likely to remain a huge bargain in comparison to his value — so he's an affordable ace. The Pirates have the second-worst record in the National League (20-36), ahead of only the historically bad Colorado Rockies. They're already 14.5 games out of first place in the NL Central and 11.5 games back of the final wild-card spot. They are on pace to lose more than 100 games this season. They'll have a hard time topping the 76 wins they collected in each of the past two seasons and are likely headed for a seventh straight losing campaign. Still, the Pirates' plan, for now, is to play better under new manager Don Kelly and build a stronger everyday lineup. That would allow them to take advantage of a young starting rotation that has the potential to be a force in the regular season and postseason in a couple of years — if their starters are all healthy. Pirates hitters rank last in the majors this season in runs scored and 29th in OPS. Meanwhile, Skenes has a 2.10 ERA over his first 34 starts in the majors, including a 2.36 mark through 11 outings this season. The Pirates know, under owner Bob Nutting, that they're never going to commit the $350 million to $400 million it likely would eventually take to prevent Skenes from reaching free agency. (Pittsburgh's franchise-record signing was an eight-year, $106.75 million contract to outfielder Bryan Reynolds in 2023; the club's record free-agent signing was a three-year, $39 million deal to lefty Francisco Liriano in 2015.) And although the Pirates have the option of trading Skenes at any point between now and the 2029 trade deadline, they also know that waiting comes with the risk of future shoulder or elbow injuries. His trade value will never be higher than it is right now, at least in theory. Advertisement The problem for the Pirates — well, one of their problems, I should say — is that they don't have a lot of valuable trade chips at the major- or minor-league level, they don't have a stream of top prospects waiting in the wings to help the big-league club anytime soon, and they've established they don't want to spend significant money in free agency. Therefore, how do they expect to improve enough to contend? Perhaps trading Skenes isn't as far-fetched as you'd think. As a thought exercise, let's consider the types of trade offers it would take to get the Pirates to at least take a look. Here are five teams with the young talent to put together such a package and potential offers they could make for the reigning NL Rookie of the Year. Now, I understand fans of these five teams may say that this is way too much talent to trade for a single player. I get that sentiment. But this is Paul Skenes, a franchise-changing ace with four more years of team control after this season. Remember, in 2022, Juan Soto had two and a half years of team control remaining when he headlined a blockbuster trade between the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals that brought back outfielder James Wood, shortstop C.J. Abrams, left-hander MacKenzie Gore, outfielder Robert Hassell III and right-hander Jarlin Susana, along with first baseman Luke Voit — and Skenes is more valuable now than Soto was at that stage based on his team control and potential impact for a contending team. To land Skenes in a trade, it would take parting with an uncomfortable amount of young talent and beyond that perhaps require an over-pay for the Pirates even to consider it. Here are five theoretical deals that could at least serve as starting points if Pittsburgh was willing to deal its ace. Proposed package: RHP Cade Horton, 3B Matt Shaw, OF Kevin Alcántara, SS Juan Tomas The Pirates would acquire Horton, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, who could immediately go into their rotation, and he'd come with an extra year of control than they have with Skenes. Shaw could be moved to second base. Alcántara could be promoted to the majors to play left field, and he'd be an instant upgrade in the Pirates' lineup. Tomas, 17, is a solid prospect who could develop into their long-term solution at shortstop. Meanwhile, Skenes would make the first-place Cubs a real October threat. Advertisement Proposed package: C Dalton Rushing, OF Andy Pages, LHP Jackson Ferris, RHP Landon Knack The Dodgers could offer the Pirates a long-term answer at catcher (Rushing) and a solution for left field (Pages), improving their lineup for this season and years to come. Ferris, 21, isn't ready for the majors yet, but has the stuff to become a top-of-the-rotation starter if his command and control improve. Knack would slot into the Pirates' rotation right away, effectively replacing Skenes. On the other side of the trade, the Dodgers' postseason rotation, if healthy, could be Skenes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. Yikes! Proposed package: OF Roman Anthony, 2B/SS Franklin Arias, 1B/OF Justin Gonzales, RHP Luis Perales To start the package, the Red Sox could offer Anthony, the top position-player prospect in baseball, whom the Pirates could promote to the majors immediately, giving him a chance to win NL Rookie of the Year this season. They'd also improve their longer-term future by acquiring a middle infielder in Arias, a power bat in Gonzales and a power arm in Perales. Meanwhile, for Boston, a rotation led by Skenes and Garrett Crochet would be a game-changer. Proposed package: OF Max Clark, SS Bryce Rainer, RHP Jaden Hamm, RHP Owen Hall This potential Tigers offer would give the Pirates solutions up the middle with two former first-round picks: Clark, a 20-year-old center fielder, and Rainer, a 19-year-old shortstop, both of whom should develop into All-Star caliber players. Clark could be promoted to the majors soon with the Pirates moving Oneil Cruz to right field and Reynolds to left field. Rainer is a few years away. And the Pirates would also receive two solid pitching prospects in Hamm, 22, and Hall, 19, who are currently pitching at Double A and Low A, respectively. For Detroit, just imagine a rotation headed by Tarik Skubal and Skenes — the double SKs. The Tigers could roll out those two aces followed by Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize, Reese Olson and Jack Flaherty. That rotation that would make them the American League favorites to run the table this October. Advertisement Proposed package: OF Carson Benge, 1B Ryan Clifford, SS/OF Jett Williams, RHP Brandon Sproat The Mets could offer arguably their four best prospects for Skenes. Sproat could effectively replace Skenes in the Pirates' rotation immediately while Benge, Clifford and Williams would give them a trio of bats who would improve their lineup in the long term. This is the weakest package of the five I've listed, but among this group of potential trade partners, the Mets are the team that needs Skenes the most; he'd pair with Kodai Senga to lead a rotation that surprisingly tops the majors in ERA (2.85) this season. Again, by all indications, the Pirates are not going to trade Skenes before this year's deadline. However, never say never — when it comes to baseball trades, anything can happen. And, as agonizing as it would be for Pittsburgh fans, the Pirates' best pathway back to respectability is probably to trade him. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photo: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates ace Paul Skenes on the idea the last-place club should trade him: 'Anybody can play GM'
Paul Skenes didn't hear Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington say that trading the reigning National League Rookie of the Year to give the last-place club an influx of much-needed position player talent is " not at all part of the conversation." When someone relayed Cherington's comments to him, the 22-year-old ace laughed. "It doesn't affect anything," Skenes told The Associated Press late Friday night after the Pirates rallied for a 6-5, 10-inning win over Milwaukee. "Anybody can play GM." True, but it says something about where the Pirates are currently at — well out of playoff position before Memorial Day — that Cherington's uncharacteristically blunt answer made headlines anyway. Yet if Skenes, who celebrated his first anniversary in the majors two weeks ago, has learned anything during his rise to stardom over the last three years, it's that noise is not the same as news. "There's no substance to just all that talk that you hear on social media and news outlets and stuff like that," Skenes said. It's one of the many reasons he makes it a point to try and block all the noise out. Yes, Skenes understands that baseball is a business — he said as much after manager Derek Shelton was fired on May 8 — but he also knows his business at this point in his career is focused entirely on throwing a baseball, not worrying about who he's throwing it for. There could very well be a time when Skenes moves on, either by Pittsburgh's choice or his own. That time, at least to Skenes, is not coming anytime soon. Pittsburgh is last in the major leagues in runs with 157, and no high-profile position player prospect is ready to walk into the home clubhouse at PNC Park as a big leaguer anytime soon. "Ben's job is to create a winning team and a winning organization," Skenes said. "So, what it looks like to him (is up to him)." Skenes added if the Pirates decided to make some sort of highly unusual move by trading one of the sport's brightest young stars, even though he remains under team control for the rest of the decade and isn't even eligible for arbitration until 2027, he wouldn't take it personally. "I don't expect it to happen," Skenes stressed. "(But Cherington) is going to look out for what's best for the Pirates. If he feels (trading me) is the right way to go, then he feels that's the right way to go. But you know, I have to pitch well, that's the bottom line." Skenes has been every bit the generational talent Pittsburgh hoped it was getting when it selected him with the top pick in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-6 right-hander was a sensation from the moment he made his big-league debut last May and even as the team around him has scuffled — the Pirates tied a major-league record by going 26 straight games without scoring more than four runs, a streak that ended in a loss to the Brewers on Thursday — he has not. Five days after throwing the first complete game of his career in a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia, Skenes kept the Brewers in check over six innings, giving up just one run on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. When he induced Sal Frelick into a grounder to second to finish the sixth, many in the crowd of 24,646 rose to their feet to salute him as he sauntered his way back to the dugout. He exited with a 2-1 lead, then watched from afar the struggling bullpen let it slip away. The Pirates, in an all-too-rare occurrence, fought back, rallying to tie it in the ninth on Oneil Cruz's second home run, then winning it in the 10th when Adam Frazier raced home on a wild pitch. Afterward, music blared and Skenes — who hasn't won in a month despite having a 2.32 ERA across his five May starts — flashed a smile that was a mixture of happiness and relief. "It's nice to see us pull it out, which is something that we haven't done as much to this point in the year," he said. "Hopefully it's a good sign." The Pirates sure could use some. Skenes has been fully invested in the franchise since baseball commissioner Rob Manfred called his name in the amateur draft two years ago. He has embraced his role as one of baseball's first Gen Z stars and has become comfortable being the face of the franchise, even if that franchise hasn't won much of anything in 30-plus years. The challenge of trying to help make the Pirates truly matter is something Skenes has eagerly accepted. He's as invested in the city as he is in the team itself. Asked if the outside speculation that the club should move on from him so quickly is disrespectful to the effort he's made to be everything the Pirates have asked him to be, the former Air Force cadet shrugged. "I don't feel anything good or bad toward it," he said. Maybe because he realizes it's simply not worth the energy. It hasn't been the start to 2025 that anybody associated with the Pirates has wanted. Skenes believes there's been a "little bit more fight" since Don Kelly took over as manager. He believes that he's gaining more mastery over his ever-expanding arsenal. He believes he's developing chemistry with catcher Henry Davis. That's a lot for a veteran to handle, let alone someone who doesn't turn 23 until next week. It's why focusing on his long-term future — or what others are saying about it — is wasted energy. Skenes was asked about what it's been like to work with Davis, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft. His answer could have doubled for where Skenes finds himself in general as he tries to navigate the push-pull of stardom and all the trappings — both good and bad — that come with it. "Just really got to keep doing what we're doing," he said, "continue learning and let everything take care of itself, I guess." ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pirates ace Paul Skenes on the idea the last-place club should trade him: ‘Anybody can play GM'
Paul Skenes didn't hear Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington say that trading the reigning National League Rookie of the Year to give the last-place club an influx of much-needed position player talent is 'not at all part of the conversation.' When someone relayed Cherington's comments to him, the 22-year-old ace laughed. Advertisement 'It doesn't affect anything,' Skenes told The Associated Press late Friday night after the Pirates rallied for a 6-5, 10-inning win over Milwaukee. 'Anybody can play GM.' True, but it says something about where the Pirates are currently at — well out of playoff position before Memorial Day — that Cherington's uncharacteristically blunt answer made headlines anyway. Yet if Skenes, who celebrated his first anniversary in the majors two weeks ago, has learned anything during his rise to stardom over the last three years, it's that noise is not the same as news. 'There's no substance to just all that talk that you hear on social media and news outlets and stuff like that,' Skenes said. Advertisement It's one of the many reasons he makes it a point to try and block all the noise out. Yes, Skenes understands that baseball is a business — he said as much after manager Derek Shelton was fired on May 8 — but he also knows his business at this point in his career is focused entirely on throwing a baseball, not worrying about who he's throwing it for. There could very well be a time when Skenes moves on, either by Pittsburgh's choice or his own. That time, at least to Skenes, is not coming anytime soon. Pittsburgh is last in the major leagues in runs with 157, and no high-profile position player prospect is ready to walk into the home clubhouse at PNC Park as a big leaguer anytime soon. 'Ben's job is to create a winning team and a winning organization,' Skenes said. 'So, what it looks like to him (is up to him).' Advertisement Skenes added if the Pirates decided to make some sort of highly unusual move by trading one of the sport's brightest young stars, even though he remains under team control for the rest of the decade and isn't even eligible for arbitration until 2027, he wouldn't take it personally. 'I don't expect it to happen,' Skenes stressed. '(But Cherington) is going to look out for what's best for the Pirates. If he feels (trading me) is the right way to go, then he feels that's the right way to go. But you know, I have to pitch well, that's the bottom line.' Skenes has been every bit the generational talent Pittsburgh hoped it was getting when it selected him with the top pick in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-6 right-hander was a sensation from the moment he made his big-league debut last May and even as the team around him has scuffled — the Pirates tied a major-league record by going 26 straight games without scoring more than four runs, a streak that ended in a loss to the Brewers on Thursday — he has not. Advertisement Five days after throwing the first complete game of his career in a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia, Skenes kept the Brewers in check over six innings, giving up just one run on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. When he induced Sal Frelick into a grounder to second to finish the sixth, many in the crowd of 24,646 rose to their feet to salute him as he sauntered his way back to the dugout. He exited with a 2-1 lead, then watched from afar the struggling bullpen let it slip away. The Pirates, in an all-too-rare occurrence, fought back, rallying to tie it in the ninth on Oneil Cruz's second home run, then winning it in the 10th when Adam Frazier raced home on a wild pitch. Afterward, music blared and Skenes — who hasn't won in a month despite having a 2.32 ERA across his five May starts — flashed a smile that was a mixture of happiness and relief. 'It's nice to see us pull it out, which is something that we haven't done as much to this point in the year,' he said. 'Hopefully it's a good sign.' Advertisement The Pirates sure could use some. Skenes has been fully invested in the franchise since baseball commissioner Rob Manfred called his name in the amateur draft two years ago. He has embraced his role as one of baseball's first Gen Z stars and has become comfortable being the face of the franchise, even if that franchise hasn't won much of anything in 30-plus years. The challenge of trying to help make the Pirates truly matter is something Skenes has eagerly accepted. He's as invested in the city as he is in the team itself. Asked if the outside speculation that the club should move on from him so quickly is disrespectful to the effort he's made to be everything the Pirates have asked him to be, the former Air Force cadet shrugged. Advertisement 'I don't feel anything good or bad toward it,' he said. Maybe because he realizes it's simply not worth the energy. It hasn't been the start to 2025 that anybody associated with the Pirates has wanted. Skenes believes there's been a 'little bit more fight' since Don Kelly took over as manager. He believes that he's gaining more mastery over his ever-expanding arsenal. He believes he's developing chemistry with catcher Henry Davis. That's a lot for a veteran to handle, let alone someone who doesn't turn 23 until next week. It's why focusing on his long-term future — or what others are saying about it — is wasted energy. Advertisement Skenes was asked about what it's been like to work with Davis, the top overall pick in the 2021 draft. His answer could have doubled for where Skenes finds himself in general as he tries to navigate the push-pull of stardom and all the trappings — both good and bad — that come with it. 'Just really got to keep doing what we're doing,' he said, 'continue learning and let everything take care of itself, I guess.' Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
