MLB Trade Rumors: Paul Skenes Trade Talk Coming For Pirates?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to one of their worst starts in years—and that's saying something for this perennial bottom-feeder. They've already fired their manager, and now, according to one of the most respected baseball insiders in the business, Jeff Passan, a trade of the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Finalist Paul Skenes is a possibility, as he told The Pat McAfee Show.

"Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates fans deserve better..

What incentive does he have to extend with the Pirates right now..

The Pirates haven't shown that they are worthy of a Paul Skenes extension at this point" ~ @JeffPassan #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/eCkkgMFb7y
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 14, 2025

If they believe that they have absolutely no chance of signing him (before he reaches free agency in five years), then they should trade him. You can make the argument that they should trade him now.

The truth is, there are already teams that are going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline this year. I don’t anticipate that he’s going to be moved, but there’s a real argument to be made that the best thing for the Pittsburgh Pirates would be to move Paul Skenes when he has his most value. It’s a depressing reality.

The Pirates will be missing the playoffs this season for the 10th straight year, and for the 30th time in the last 33 years. Ouch.

They've only had one winning season (82-79) in the past decade, and that was back in 2018.

Passan goes on to explain that they really don't deserve a player like Skenes at this point, nor would he be likely to sign long-term with them.

Why Paul Skenes is becoming a trade candidate

"What incentive does Paul Skenes have to extend with the Pirates when the Pirates haven’t shown the willingness from (owner) Bob Nutting all the way down, or the ability to bring in guys who are going to make this team better? The Pirates haven’t shown that they are worthy of a Paul Skenes extension at this point.”

The Pirates are currently 14-29, last in the NL Central. They are 29th of 30 teams in home runs, and 29th in OPS. Aside from Oneil Cruz, and occasionally Bryan Reynolds, there is very little to be excited about on the offensive side of things.

On the mound, where there are some promising young pieces, even aside from Skenes, they are 20th in ERA. Jared Jones, one of their other exciting pitching prospects, has yet to pitch this year due to injury, while 22-year-old Bubba Chandler, the #7 prospect in all of baseball, has a 1.91 ERA in seven Triple-A starts this season.