The speculation surrounding Paul Skenes has reached a peak as MLB’s July 31 trade deadline approaches, yet the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to firmly shut the door on any deal involving their 23-year-old ace.
Skenes has delivered yet another exceptional campaign in 2025. Through 20 starts, he owns a league-leading 2.01 ERA, has racked up 131 strikeouts in 121 innings, and maintains an elite 0.93 WHIP.
Despite carrying a 5-8 record, he remains among the top pitching talents in the majors. His dominance has thrust him into the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award.
In light of Pittsburgh’s offensive woes and their standings near the bottom of the league, rumors of a trade seemed inevitable.
Still, GM Ben Cherington has consistently maintained that moving Skenes is “not part of the conversation at all”.
Skenes himself dismissed the chatter back in May, calling it speculation devoid of substance.
“There’s no substance to just all that talk that you hear on social media and news outlets and stuff like that,” he said, before adding: “Anybody can play GM”, reinforcing the Pirates‘ evaluation and public posture.
Several front offices continue to explore potential trade scenarios. Veteran pitcher Mitch Keller has emerged as a leading Pirate contender, with a respectable 3.48 ERA and a heavy workload that includes a league-leading number of starts. Teams like the Yankees reportedly see him as a solid option for rotation depth.
Closer David Bednar,Andrew Heaney, plus position players such as Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes are also expected to draw serious interest.
Pirates’ stance and strategy moving forward
The Pirates reaffirm their commitment to building around Skenes as a long-term cornerstone as they continue to refuse to entertain any trade talk.
Sources emphasize his control extends through at least 2029, making him a foundational piece for any future competitive window.
Still, analysts like Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette argue the Pirates may need to reevaluate their position.
He admits he’s “not saying the Pirates should dump Skenes for nothing,” but suggests testing the market might be prudent given the club’s limited willingness to extend him in free agency later.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic has also reported that rival GMs are preparing aggressive offers for Skenes, echoing that Pittsburgh must at least consider offers given their roster shortcomings.
Yet even Bowden acknowledges the unrealistic odds of Skenes being traded midseason.
At the same time, the Pirates appear poised to be major sellers. Bowden described their approach as preparing to create a “tidal wave” of moves ahead of the deadline, emphasizing that while Skenes is untouchable, other assets, including Keller, Heaney, Bednar, Reynolds, and Hayes, are expected to be shopped.
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