The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t approach the 2025 trade deadline with the mindset of a contender. Instead, they leaned into a new direction by parting ways with two of their most established players, closer David Bednar and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Rather than making one last push toward a crowded National League playoff race, the franchise made a decisive choice to prioritize the future.
For many fans, the departure of longtime faces was painful. But for rookie sensation Paul Skenes, the deadline was less a setback and more a moment to embrace the next phase of the team’s evolution.
“At the end of the day, it’s about winning,” Skenes told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Noah Niles. “We’re gonna do our best to go out there and do our best to win every game the remainder of the season. What we did last year, I think they took an approach to set us up for the second half, the last two months of the season last year, but also set us up for this year with some of the acquisitions we made. But it all comes down to winning.”
Still just 23 years old, Skenes is already viewed as the face of the franchise. In his first full MLB season, the right-hander has delivered elite production with a 2.02 ERA and 154 strikeouts across 138 innings. His emergence has been a major development in a year when wins have been hard to come by.
Pittsburgh’s shift reflects a broader commitment to future growth
Despite the strength of their starting rotation, the Pirates entered August well out of the postseason conversation. The team ranks among the league’s top half in ERA, but an offense that hasn’t kept pace has left them with a -51 run differential. That statistical imbalance contributed to general manager Ben Cherington‘s decision to retool the roster.
Along with dealing Bednar and Hayes, the Pirates sent left-hander Bailey Falter to the Royals. In return, they acquired a crop of prospects and opened up room to maneuver financially, potentially laying the groundwork for significant additions this winter.
“Hopefully it also created some space for us to acquire some bats in the offseason,” Skenes said. “Didn’t see a lot in terms of major league [acquisitions] at the deadline, but hopefully that sets us up next year.”
With less than two months remaining in the regular season, the Pirates‘ goals have changed. No longer measured by the standings, progress now comes in development, chemistry, and preparing for what lies ahead.
“How we define [progress] for the rest of the year is probably going to be different,” Skenes added. “It’s not going to just be winning and losing games.”
Some fans and analysts questioned why the Pirates held onto veterans like Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Tommy Pham, and Andrew Heaney, each on expiring contracts. But Skenes pushed back on that criticism, emphasizing their mentorship value for a team with so many young pieces on the rise.
“We need them,” he said. “If we’re talking about winning games… having those two guys around is going to be very good for the young guys that are going to come up, especially on the position player side.”
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