Pirates GM's blunt message on Paul Skenes trade buzz

The Pittsburgh Pirates are not playing well in 2025. Derek Shelton was fired as the manager, and who knows what will happen with GM Bob Cherington and others around the front office. 

As such, plenty of conversation has emerged about whether or not the Pirates should consider trading away superstar pitcher Paul Skenes. The former LSU star is only in his second year, but one executive around the league said the Pirates could land a package 1.5 times the size of the one the Washington Nationals received for trading Juan Soto. 

Do they consider a trade? Well, Cherington shut down those possibilities with a firm stance, per Alex Stumpf of MLB.com.

Ben Cherington on if the Pirates would consider trading Paul Skenes this season: “No. It’s not at all part of the conversation.”

Earlier in the week, it was revealed that one Pirates source said “No chance, no way, no how" on a possible Skenes trade conversation, so Cherington's comments aren't surprising. 

So, that seems to be the thought process in Pittsburgh, at least for now. Sure, things can change, and the Pirates' unwillingness to spend big in free agency has become a talking point. 

Imagine trading away Skenes for four, five, or even six players that all contribute. Is that something the Pirates pass on? Only time will tell, but all indications show that they have no interest in trading Skenes away at this moment in time. 

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