As trade rumors swirl around Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, the 22-year-old phenom remains unfazed.
Even without hearing general manager Ben Cherington‘s assurance that dealing the reigning NL Rookie of the Year is “not at all part of the conversation,” Skenes didn’t flinch when told.
“It doesn’t affect anything,” Skenes said following the Pirates’ dramatic 6-5 extra-innings win over the Milwaukee Brewers. “Anybody can play GM.”
Skenes, who has celebrated one year in the big leagues since being selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, has quickly learned to tune out speculation. “There’s no substance to just all that talk that you hear on social media and news outlets and stuff like that,” he added.
Despite the Pirates‘ ongoing struggles – they rank last in MLB in total runs scored and lack any elite position-player prospects – Skenes isn’t letting that change his mindset. He’s focused on doing his job on the mound, even if the team around him isn’t performing at the same level.
Skenes leads by example as Pirates face uphill climb
Friday’s win was a rare bright spot in a tough stretch for Pittsburgh, who just snapped a 26-game streak without scoring more than four runs. Despite the team’s offensive woes, Skenes delivered six strong innings against the Brewers, allowing just one run while striking out eight.
As the bullpen threatened to undo his efforts, the Pirates rallied in the ninth on a home run from Oneil Cruz, then sealed the victory in the 10th thanks to Adam Frazier‘s aggressive baserunning. While the win lifted spirits in the clubhouse, Skenes knows there’s a long road ahead.
“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.”
While Skenes is under team control through the end of the decade and not even arbitration-eligible until 2027, the idea of him being traded isn’t completely off the table for some fans. However, he views such decisions with calm pragmatism.
“I don’t expect it to happen,” Skenes said. “[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.”
His presence has been one of the few consistent positives for Pittsburgh. Despite a 2.32 ERA in May, Skenes hasn’t recorded a win this month – a reflection of the team’s broader issues rather than his own performance.
Still, his commitment to the Pirates remains steady. He’s embraced working closely with catcher Henry Davis, and he sees signs of progress under interim manager Don Kelly.
“Just really got to keep doing what we’re doing,” Skenes said. “Continue learning and let everything take care of itself, I guess.”
With maturity well beyond his years and the performance to match, Paul Skenes continues to serve as a beacon of hope for a franchise in need of stability – even amid uncertainty.
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