Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Phillies Trade Idea Lands Them Former No.1 Overall Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Daniel Arwas | Last updated May 22, 2025 8:09 PM ET

Jeff Passan made a splash in the MLB world when he suggested on the Pat McAfee Show that it could well be in the best interests of the Pittsburgh Pirates to move All-Star and All-MLB first team pitcher, Paul Skenes at some point in the future. Perhaps as early as prior to the July 31 trade deadline.

Although Pirates general manager, Ben Cherington, shot down immediate trade rumors, it is still not inconceivable that the 17-33 Pirates sell when their most prized asset's stock is sky high.

Skenes is currently the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award; and aged just 22, there is no doubt that the Pirates would receive a haul in return.

Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer has the Philadelphia Phillies down as a top candidate to trade for Skenes, were he to become available in the near future.

"Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski loves his blockbuster trades," Rymer writes, "and he's in a spot where all options should be on the table to keep the club's contention window open. The Phillies are a good team, but the roster skews older, and the last two trips to the playoffs have been a letdown.

In exchange, the Phillies would give up right handed pitchers, rookie, Andrew Painter, and Mick Abel; alongside shortstop, Aidan Miller.

However, Rymer believes that this trade could end up being counterproductive for the Phillies given Painter's impressive rookie season with Philadelphia.

"Even setting aside the fact that they don't need pitching, there is the question of whether swapping out Painter for Skenes would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Painter has Skenes-like upside, and he should be ready to begin tapping into it at the major league level before the end of this season."

Skenes is a next-level talent, but sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make. Particularly for a GM as historically aggressive as Dombrowksi.

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

More must-reads: