Paul Skenes Receives Good News After Pirates' Trade Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Nov 24, 2025 2:37 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates struck gold when they selected Paul Skenes with the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of LSU. After just his second season in Pittsburgh, the 23-year-old right-hander has solidified himself as the top pitcher in the National League.

Skenes captured his first NL Cy Young Award in 2025, finishing the year with the best ERA in MLB at 1.97 while recording 216 strikeouts over 187 2/3 innings. Known for one of the most dominant fastballs in the league, Skenes also features a devastating mix of breaking pitches that keeps hitters off balance.

What makes his rise even more remarkable is his age, as he is still developing and refining his arsenal. The combination of elite velocity, sharp secondary pitches and room for growth makes Skenes not only the present ace of the Pirates but also a pitcher with the potential to define the next era of baseball.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Despite Skenes’ dominance, his name briefly surfaced in trade rumors after the Pirates finished with a losing record for the seventh straight year in 2025. The frustration of another disappointing season fueled speculation that Pittsburgh might consider moving its young ace as part of a larger rebuild.

Those rumors, however, were quickly put to rest. Early in the offseason, the Pirates made it clear that Skenes is untouchable and will not be traded, reaffirming their commitment to building around him as the centerpiece of the franchise.

And on Monday, Skenes received good news that indicated Pittsburgh was doing just that, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal. “The Pirates want to win during National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes’ remaining four seasons of club control,” Rosenthal wrote.

The Pirates and Marlins have a sudden willingness to spend. Here’s what could be behind it. With @EvanDrellich: https://t.co/8iYvhJY9zV
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 24, 2025

He noted that while top free agents may be hesitant to sign in Pittsburgh, the Pirates are willing to trade for MLB talent if necessary to build a more competitive roster.

“Free agents such as [Ryan] O’Hearn, [Jorge] Polanco and [Kazuma] Okamoto also might shun the Pirates if offered deals by clubs more likely to contend. Which is why the Pirates also are actively exploring trades, checking in with the St. Louis Cardinals on their available left-handed hitters, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman, and also speaking with other teams,” Rosenthal continued.

With one of the league’s lowest payrolls, Pittsburgh knows that spending money or acquiring talent via trade is essential. For Skenes, that investment should translate into more wins after he finished just 10-10 in 2025, a record that highlighted how little offensive support he had despite his dominance. The Pirates cannot afford to waste his prime, and their willingness to add talent signals a genuine effort to build a contender around their ace.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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