Just another day, and yet another layer unfolds in the ongoing saga surrounding Paul Skenes and the Pirates. The buzz has been steadily building, with ESPN insider Jeff Passan recently igniting debate over whether the Pirates should consider trading their electric young ace. Now, the conversation has taken another turn. Yes, a new insider perspective has emerged.
Well, this time the focus is not on what the Pirates could do. But what team owner Bob Nutting must do if he truly intends to keep Skenes in Pittsburgh for the long haul. So, as opinions swirl and speculation mounts, the stakes for the Pirates’ front office have never felt higher. While we are not sure if the team is willing to let go of Skenes. But rumor mills are working tirelessly to come up with newer aspects.
“I mean, wouldn’t we all be shocked if all of a sudden they hand him just a ridiculous amount of cash that keeps him there, that’s the only way. You’re not going to convince him with the recent history of the franchise, or with the current roster, right?” MLB analyst Scott Braun went no-holds-barred in offering his insight about what the Pirates’ owner needs to do to retain Skenes. A lot of cash! Yes, nothing but a huge contract will keep Skenes in Pittsburgh.
Skenes is widely seen as a generational talent. He is a rare pitching phenom with the kind of presence and power that could anchor a franchise for years. Moreover, Skenes is actually producing the numbers in the real world. This season, he is standing with a 2.63 ERA and 53 SOs. That’s phenomenal.
This year, you might have also checked how Skenes’ first few starts with the Pirates are all about dominance. His fastball routinely touches triple digits, his command is sharp, and his composure on the mound is striking for someone so new to MLB. Hence, as per Braun, it may require breaking the bank for the Pirates.
Now the question is, will Nutting go all-out for Skenes? Considering the history of the Pirates, they are not known to offer an aggressive amount to any of their players. From Gerrit Cole to Tyler Glasnow, from Josh Bell to Andrew McCutchen, the franchise has consistently failed to retain its marquee talent. Let’s see what the team does with Skenes this time.
Skenes is the only positive with the Pirates currently
The Pirates’ 2025 season has quickly gone off the rails, with a brutal 15–31 record. But are you surprised seeing them sitting dead last in the NL Central? It is the same script getting repeated year after year. The offense has been lifeless, unable to come through in key moments or provide the kind of consistent production needed to compete. When a team ranked 29th in a 30-team league in terms of BA (.218), it shows the sorry state of their offense.
Pitching has been just as problematic, with the rotation failing to find rhythm outside of one man, and the bullpen frequently collapsing in late innings. Here, the rank is still better compared to the offense. 18th in terms of ERA (4.14).
The lone bright spot and perhaps the only reason fans still tune in is rookie Paul Skenes. The former No. 1 overall pick has delivered everything the organization hoped for and more. When you see a fastball that touches triple digits and a slider that’s already devastating big-league hitters, you know that Skenes has looked every bit like the ace of the future.
Hence, hopefully, the front office will make serious changes in terms of financial means. Otherwise, the Pirates risk wasting not only another season, but the early years of a potential generational talent. For now, Paul Skenes is the story in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, he’s just about the only one worth watching.
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