Paul Skenes has established himself as one of the best pitchers in MLB in just his second year as a professional, but the problem is that he seems to be too much of a player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are languishing at the bottom of the National League Central Division.
Speculation about a possible trade of the team for its star pitcher was not long in coming, and it was officially confirmed that the team’s owner, Bob Nutting, is the main person responsible for the potential departure of the 2024 Rookie of the Year pitcher.
The Pirates are known for generating great revenue, but they are a team that usually does not invest in its own players, which baffles the team’s players and the media.
Skenes: A Chandelier in a Haunted House
An analyst on the Foul Territory program summed up Skenes’ position in Major League Baseball as follows: “His talent, plus what he’s paid, I don’t know if there’s a value that can be defined. It’s like the Mona Lisa right now. You have to allow him to get close to arbitration until he’s doing something similar to a player of his caliber.
“The problem is that, with four years of control over what he can bring to the mound, any MLB team, especially one with potential, is not in a position or willing to offer its assets,” added the pitcher, who has a 3-4 record in eight starts on the season, with a 2.77 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched, with 47 strikeouts and 12 walks.
According to a source, if the Pirates trade Skenes, they won’t be able to do so for real prospects.
“You (Pirates) need to get proven Major League talent in addition to prospects.”
Skenes’ quality could give any team at least 15 wins in a season, so questions arise about his low salary as a rookie, and obviously a pitcher of his quality deserves a better team, with a high budget and solid management, unlike Bob Nutting’s team.
Skenes is a gem that everyone would like to have
Now everything will depend on the owner of the Pittsburgh ninth, even if he does not invest in star players like Skenes, many teams in the league would be happy to sign him, but until he becomes a free agent, he will shine for his team no matter what.
The Pirates’ fan base is frustrated for a reason. While Nutting has no problem with “mediocrity,” Skenes always manages to help the Pirates (14-27) rack up some wins.
The right-hander is now preparing for his first extended appearance in the mecca of baseball: New York. The Pirates will face the Mets (26-15) in an intense three-game series at Citi Field.
Skenes will be the one to open the series for Pittsburgh, and will face the Mets’ left-hander David Peterson and a powerful lineup that includes the likes of Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and company, a good test for the sophomore pitcher.
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