Pittsburgh Pirates general manager, Ben Cherington, has firmly stated he will not trade Paul Skenes, the team’s ace, despite a rocky start to the season. Skenes, just 22 years old, has already made a name for himself in Major League Baseball since debuting last year, drawing attention as one of the league’s premier pitchers. Some fans and analysts believe trading him could potentially yield valuable prospects that might revitalize the Pirates’ performance, but Cherington has dismissed these speculations.
“No, that’s not part of the conversation,” he remarked on Wednesday.
The Pirates are struggling this season with a record of 17-34, currently sitting last in the NL Central. They’ve managed only 151 runs—a troubling statistic that puts them behind even the Chicago White Sox. Hitting-wise, their average is .219, ranking as the second lowest in the league. While trading Skenes could attract new talent, Cherington seems hesitant, despite being aware of the lineup’s shortcomings. He believes retaining Skenes is essential for the team’s future potential.
“We need to improve,” Cherington acknowledged. “Better baseball leads to more wins. Let’s reassess in July and see where we stand.” He expressed a desire to elevate the talent within the team, hinting at possibilities for growth this season, but recognized that simply wishing for better outcomes won’t suffice.
Skenes’ most recent performance featured a full game against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he allowed just three hits—an impressive feat in his career. Recently, the Pirates made the decision to part ways with manager Derek Shelton, but that change hasn’t altered the team’s losing trajectory.
On the pitching front, while the starters like Skenes (2.44 ERA), Mitch Keller (3.88), Andrew Heaney (2.91), and Bailey Falter (3.50) showcase promise, their overall records of 11-21 reveal a lack of support from the lineup and bullpen. In his 33 career starts, Skenes boasts a record of 14-8, an impressive 2.12 ERA, and has racked up 232 strikeouts over 195.2 innings pitched.
