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6 hours ago
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The Boston Red Sox are no strangers to swinging trades for star pitchers.
They acquired Garrett Crochet just six months ago, and the overwhelming success of that deal could entice the Red Sox to make another blockbuster move. What better player to target than Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes?
It might seem foolish for Pittsburgh to part ways with a player who just won National League Rookie of the Year and finished third in Cy Young voting, but there is real concern that Skenes will not sign an extension with the Pirates.
During an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” MLB insider Jeff Passan suggested that the Pirates trade Skenes now rather than risk losing him for nothing once he’s eligible for free agency.
“If they believe that they have absolutely no chance of signing him, then they should trade him,” said Passan.
“What incentive does Paul Skenes have to extend with the Pirates? The Pirates have not shown willingness, from Bob Nutting all the way down, or the ability to bring in guys who are going to make this team better,” Passan continued.
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If the Pirates decide to trade their 22-year-old ace, they’ll likely get a king’s ransom in return. Lucky for the Red Sox, they have a plethora of talented prospects they can use to pry Skenes away from the Pirates.
In fact, Boston’s farm system is so deep that they might not have to include their top prospect to facilitate a trade for Skenes.
In a trade proposal from Jim Riley, he has the Red Sox landing Skenes for a package that includes the following players: Marcelo Mayer, Brayan Bello, Franklin Arias, and Luis Perales.
This transaction not only gives the Red Sox a generational pitcher like Skenes, but it also allows them to keep Roman Anthony, the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. It would be a clear win for Boston, but Pittsburgh would also benefit from the deal.
The Pirates would be getting the three best prospects Boston has to offer outside of Anthony, headlined by Mayer, the No. 8 prospect in all of baseball.
Along with a trio of promising prospects, the Pirates would also receive a young pitcher who is just scratching the surface of his potential in Bello.
The Red Sox are ready to win this year and have more than enough assets to facilitate a trade that would solidify them as World Series contenders. If someone like Skenes becomes available this summer, they should do whatever it takes to bring him to Beantown.
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