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MLB Insider Reveals Major Update on Pirates' Paul Skenes Trade Buzz

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Toran Flores | Last updated May 21, 2025 1:29 PM ET

The start of the 2025 MLB season has been no friend to the Pittsburgh Pirates through 49 games.

With a record of 16-33, the Pirates have the fourth-worst record in all of baseball and have won just four games in May.

The Pirates' front office has faced mounting criticism for its inability to build a lineup that's capable of winning consistent baseball games.

That issue has plagued Pittsburgh since its last playoff appearance in 2015, and the team's on pace to miss the postseason for the 10th consecutive year.

With heavy criticism from the MLB community in recent years, team chairman Bob Nutting and crew have failed to act on making roster moves towards turning the team around.

One popular speculation has been on how the Pirates plan to use starting pitcher Paul Skenes and his career as a starting point for turning the team around.

Skenes was the 2024 No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft and has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball since making his debut last year.

Through 33 career starts, Skenes has produced a 2.12 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and has struck out 232 batters in 195.2 innings pitched.

With a lot that's been going wrong in the Pirates' organization, Skenes has been a consistent positive in the past two years.

Fans believe that the front office is going to push him out of Pittsburgh and think that he should be traded to a contending team.

MLB insider Jon Heyman addresses Paul Skenes trade rumors

Plenty of factors point towards Skenes moving out of Pittsbrugh, but insider Jon Heyman says that he's found answers behind the trade buzz of the Pirates' ace.

According to a Pirates source, "Paul Skenes is not getting traded. 'No chance, no way, no how,' is the way I heard it... Superstars just aren't traded by anyone with one year service time and the Pirates remian determined to build around Skenes," Heyman said on X.

Pirates source: Paul Skenes is not getting traded. “No chance, no way, no how,” is the way I heard it. While there’s a bit of logic to such a scenario, superstars just aren’t traded by anyone with 1 year service time and the Pirates remain determined to build around Skenes.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 21, 2025