The Pittsburgh Pirates may be far from being a contender in Major League Baseball (MLB). In fact, it seems they’ve long forgotten what it feels like to be among the privileged teams that make the playoffs. But they do have one thing: the biggest steal in the entire league in the form of Paul Skenes.
Many wonder how long the brilliant pitcher will hold out in an organization that doesn’t give him a chance to compete for a title-though his name has always been at the center of trade rumors.
A trade involving Paul Skenes? Unlikely…
Within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, they spoke about the future of the pitcher who is the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award. It was the general manager himself, Ben Cherington, who came out to reassure fans eager to keep watching Skenes’ dominant magic.
The executive was unequivocal about his star’s immediate future, according to statements reported by Robert Murray of FanSided:
“He is going to be a Pirate in 2026,” Cherington said of Skenes.
It’s well known that Paul Skenes is under contract with the team through the 2029 season, with a salary corresponding to the pre-arbitration period. Any trade involving his name would undoubtedly be one of the biggest deals in MLB history.
It’s no secret that the Pirates haven’t played in the postseason since 2015, so they face a decision: build the future around Paul Skenes or make a trade to try to assemble a more competitive roster.
Paul Skenes is the face of the franchise-having already won the 2024 Rookie of the Year Award-and his dominance has won over more than one baseball fan. He’s a finalist to win the Cy Young, and everything points to him claiming his first.
The big question is what will happen with the star pitcher if, in the coming years, the Pirates don’t start winning and patience runs out. Perhaps then he’ll consider other markets, but for now, Paul Skenes is staying in Pittsburgh.
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