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The Pittsburgh Pirates are 17-34 and have already fired their manager, Derek Shelton. Their consistent failure to be competitive has ignited trade rumors surrounding their young ace, Paul Skenes.
During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," MLB insider Jeff Passan suggests the Pirates should trade Skenes, which is where the rumors surrounding Skenes started.
"If they believe they have absolutely no chance of signing him, then they should trade him," said Passan. "And you can make an argument that they should trade him now."
"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.
There is an argument to be made for trading Skenes. He has four-plus years of club control, and the Pirates do not seem like a team that will be turned into contenders in that time. Additionally, they may not be able to compete financially with offers he will get in free agency, and he is not going to be inclined to sign an extension with a losing team.
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While a trade for Skenes is an interesting concept, it is still extremely unlikely. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal noted that the most likely scenario is that Skenes will be a Pirate after the July 31 deadline passes.
"Skenes is a depreciating asset who will never sign with the Pirates long-term," wrote Rosenthal. "Fellow right-hander Jared Jones is out until 2026 after undergoing a UCL repair in his elbow. A monster package of major-league-ready hitters for Skenes could align with Jones’ return and the ascent of top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler. But let’s stop making the case for a move beyond Pittsburgh’s capability. The best bet is that Skenes will still be a Pirate on Aug. 1."
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