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Pittsburgh Pirates’ general manager Ben Cherington made it clear that despite the team’s brutal start to the season, they will not trade with Ace Paul Skenes.
SKENES, 22, has taken MLB by storm since his debut last year and is already one of the best jugs of the sport. Fans and experts have theorized that relocation of Skene’s now would get a return in a trade that could drive the pirates back in violation.
However, Cherington shut down this view.
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Pittsburgh Pirates Start Pitcher Paul Skenes (30) looks at against Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth lap in Citizens Bank Park on May 18, 2025. (Kyle Ross-IMAGN images)
“No, that’s not part of the conversation at all,” Cherington said Wednesday.
The pirates are 17-34 this season and last in NL Central, and no team has scored fewer races in baseball. They have scored 151 races this season, 13 races less than the next closest team, Chicago White Sox.
Pirates’ Team-Batting average is .219, which is the second lowest in baseball. A trade in Skenes, while remaining during team control for the rest of the decade, would give Pirates a wealth of talent that could add to their arrangement.
Cherington knows that the set -up is a problem but does not want to trade with Skenes.
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Pittsburgh Pirates Start jug Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch against Philadelphia Phillies in the third round of Citizens Bank Park on May 18, 2025. (Kyle Ross-Published Pictures)
“We just have to get better,” Cherington said. “Let’s play better baseball and it will lead to winning more games. Let’s wake up and see where it takes us when we’re coming to July.”
“We want guys from Triple-A to open the door,” Cherington said. “That would be good. I still think it can happen this year. We want more of it over time … Everyone knows we have to score more races. It won’t happen just by saying it and hoping for it. You have to do the work to do it.”
Slast Start was against Philadelphia Phillies last weekend, with the limited Phillies of the Skene to three hits while throwing the first complete game in his career.
The pirates fired manager Derek Shelton a few weeks ago, but that has not changed their losing ways.
Pittsburgh Pirates Start Pitchers (L to R) Carmen Mlodzinski (50), Andrew Haney (45), Mitch Keller (23) and Paul Skene (30) enters Bullpen before the match against Cincinnati Reds in PNC Park on May 20, 2025. (Charles Leclaire-Preferred Pictures)
The starting rotation has been solid, but has received some help from Lineup or Bullpen.
SKENES (2.44), Mitch Keller (3.88), Andrew Heaney (2.91) and Bailey Falter (3.50) have all been big, but still they also have a combined record of 11-21.
In 33 career starts, Skrenes is 14-8 with a 2.12 era and an astonishing 232 strikes in 195.2 career entrances.
