Overview

• Paul Skenes, the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, is off to a strong 2025 season with a 2.63 ERA and 53 strikeouts in nine starts.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates are last in the NL Central with a 14–29 record, intensifying calls for an organizational overhaul.
• ESPN's Jeff Passan argues the Pirates should consider trading Skenes now, while his market value is at its highest.
• The Pirates retain control of Skenes through 2029, but concerns about the team’s lack of investment and poor performance raise doubts about his long-term future in Pittsburgh.
• Historically, the Pirates have traded top talent during rebuilds, fueling speculation that Skenes could be moved before the 2025 trade deadline.