With another disappointing season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, rumors of possible trades began to gain momentum. One of the most mentioned names has been that of young pitcher Paul Skenes, who has excelled in his first year in Major League Baseball. However, for now, the instruction is that the player will not leave his club.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, has made an immediate impact since his debut in May, establishing himself as the team’s ace. He currently leads the National League with a 2.12 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP, despite having a losing record of 4-7, largely due to the poor offense behind him.
Rumors of a possible trade grew due to the team’s overall poor performance, as well as the potential market value Skenes could have in a trade like Juan Soto’s in 2022. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Skenes and veteran Andrew McCutchen have been declared “untouchable” by the club’s top brass.
“The face of the franchise can’t carry all the weight alone,” Rosenthal said in his report, pointing to the need for a real rebuild if the Pirates are to be competitive again. Skenes will remain under club control until 2030.
Skenes would not be the only one
Another name that could change teams is that of fellow pitcher Mitch Keller. With a five-year, $77 million contract, Keller could be traded before the deadline.
His salary is $15 million per season and represents approximately 20% of the team’s total payroll in 2025, so the high figures could make him a good option to be sold and the team take a breather with economic spending.
The Skenes-Dunne duo does not change places
The rumor of Skenes’ transfer also set off alarm bells in their relationship, as he and his partner, Olivia Dunne, have been well known in the MLB world and fans were already wondering if the couple would pack their bags for another trip.
The relationship between Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne has had a strong impact on the media, especially in the world of sports entertainment and social networks, where both have large followings. The fact that Skenes is a promising young pitcher and Olivia an influential athlete has made their relationship attract the attention of the sports and entertainment media. For the same reason, a possible new signing of Skenes would not only have caused an impact in sports, but also in the media, but, for now, none of that will happen.
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