Three Eye-Popping Trade Packages For Paul Skenes

For the last several days, trade rumors have graced the eyes of MLB fans from every single fan base, giving some hope that they could somehow land Pirates’ generational star pitcher Paul Skenes. That’s right—the Pirates’ ace has been put on the “chopping block.” But has he really?

Jeff Passan, one of MLB’s most prized analysts who works for ESPN, took to The Pat McAfee Show, saying:

“The truth is, there are already teams that are going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline this year. I don’t anticipate that he’s going to be moved, but there’s a real argument to be made that the best thing for the Pittsburgh Pirates would be to move Paul Skenes when he has his most value. It’s a depressing reality.”

We’ve seen this before from the Pirates organization, dating back to Gerrit Cole, who they traded to the Houston Astros in a five-player deal. They did this because of his pending free agency and their “rebuilding strategy.” What’s different about Paul Skenes? Why not move the future starting pitcher for Team USA while he’s at the highest point of his career currently?

In this article, you’ll find three hypothetical trade packages that would not only work for the Pirates but also for contending teams. Skenes will most likely remain with the Pirates for the next several seasons, but let’s have a little bit of fun.

Boston Red Sox

Pirates receive:

• SS Marcelo Mayer (No. 8 MLB, No. 2 Red Sox)
• OF Roman Anthony (No. 1 MLB, No. 1 Red Sox)
• RHP Brayan Bello
• RHP Luis Perales (No. 4 Red Sox)

Red Sox receive:

• RHP Paul Skenes

Why This Paul Skenes Trade Works for the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have been missing that identity to fall behind—or in front of—Garrett Crochet. This offseason, the Sox acquired the lefty southpaw from the White Sox for a package of catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.

Adding Crochet has so far been exactly what they needed in their rotation. He’s flashed a 2.00 ERA in 63 innings pitched, along with 73 strikeouts. The problem? The Red Sox don’t have a safety valve to fall back on, leaving the rest of their rotation as a huge question mark.

As a team, the Red Sox have the 17th-best ERA at 4.09, with uncertainty in guys like Brayan Bello, who have yet to truly showcase any signs of stardom. Adding Paul Skenes to this mix instantly gives the Red Sox not only one of the best pitchers in baseball (while already having Crochet) but also the best one-two duo in the majors.

Sure, losing your top two prospects isn’t ideal, but the team is already stacked at the plate with Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, Alex Bregman, and more. Adding Skenes makes this team from Boston instant World Series favorites for the next several seasons.

Why This Works for the Pirates

Losing Paul Skenes would send a shockwave through the entire Pirates fan base, but that could quickly be eased with this historic return from the Red Sox. Getting the best prospect in Roman Anthony, paired with another top-10 in Marcelo Mayer, can provide this offense with a spark it’s been missing since the prime days of Andrew McCutchen in the early 2010s.

Anthony has gotten off to an electric start for the Worcester Red Sox, hitting .322 with a .446 OBP and .949 OPS—elite numbers that will result in a call-up this summer. Along with this, the Pirates receive Brayan Bello, who peaked as the Red Sox’s No. 5 prospect in 2022 and has major league experience to join the Pittsburgh rotation. Bello has gotten off to a slow start in 2025 with a 4.01 ERA through 31 innings, but he showcased much potential last year with 153 strikeouts in 161 innings.

This offer would give the Pirates a plethora of instant starters, filling needs for a struggling offensive team and adding pitchers who can be serviceable MLB starters.

Baltimore Orioles

Pirates receive:

• 2B Jordan Westburg
• C Samuel Basallo (No. 16 MLB, No. 1 Orioles)
• 1B Coby Mayo (No. 17 MLB, No. 2 Orioles)
• RHP Chayce McDermott (No. 4 Orioles)
• OF Dylan Beavers (No. 6 Orioles)

Orioles receive:

• RHP Paul Skenes

Why This Skenes Trade Works for the Orioles

The Orioles have a serious problem: starting pitching. Baltimore didn’t address its rotation, unless you count 41-year-old Charlie Morton, who’s 0–7 with a 7.68 ERA.

Their rotation was even a problem in 2024. Corbin Burnes was the ace, but he left for the Diamondbacks this offseason. Grayson Rodriguez, the team’s No. 2 option, has struggled to stay healthy.  

Why not shake up the entire baseball world and add Paul Skenes? A pitcher who can go out every five days and guarantee a productive outing. The Orioles have the offense to support Skenes in a way the Pirates haven’t.

Acquiring Skenes would be costly—likely costing them starting second baseman Jordan Westburg and their top two prospects—but this offense is already stacked thanks to Gunnar Henderson and others. If the Orioles really want to capitalize on their elite farm system, trading for Paul Skenes would be the missing piece.

Why This Works for the Pirates

The biggest difference-maker in this proposal is the Pirates gaining a solidified major league talent in Jordan Westburg. The 26-year-old infielder has already proven himself at the highest level, earning an All-Star nod last year and posting a 2.4 WAR in 107 games.

Along with Westburg, the Pirates would receive Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo—two highly touted prospects who combined for 44 home runs in the minors last season.

Another major piece is Chayce McDermott, the right-hander who’s appeared in just seven major league innings. McDermott’s most attractive trait is his ability to miss bats. He struck out 32.3% of batters over two seasons at Triple-A, featuring a fastball that touches 97 mph and a plus slider.

This deal would instantly give the Pirates more infield depth and a potential starting pitcher with major league upside, but it comes at the price of one of the best pitchers to touch a baseball in recent memory.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pirates receive:

• 2B Hyeseong Kim
• C/OF Dalton Rushing (No. 15 MLB, No. 1 Dodgers)
• OF Andy Pages
• RHP River Ryan (No. 9 Dodgers)
• LHP Jackson Ferris (No. 63 MLB, No. 5 Dodgers)
• OF Zyhir Hope (No. 45 MLB, No. 3 Dodgers)

Dodgers receive:

• RHP Paul Skenes

Why A Skenes Trade Works for the Dodgers

The rich get richer. A move that would truly destroy the game of baseball, once again, the Dodgers defy the odds and add to their already ridiculous roster with a Paul Skenes trade. The former NL Rookie of the Year would join an elite rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, and more. And that’s not even counting the possible return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound.

A big issue for the Dodgers the past two seasons has been the health of their rotation. Already this year, they’ve lost Ohtani, Sasaki, Snell, Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan—you name it.

As a result, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has posted a 4.18 ERA. Adding Paul Skenes gives them a young, healthy arm capable of shutting down any lineup, further cementing L.A. as World Series favorites.

With five top-100 prospects, the Dodgers can afford to give up talent, especially when they’re already receiving production from players like Andy Pages.

Why This Works for the Pirates

This would be dealing with the devil: giving the best team in baseball one of the best arms in baseball. But the return? Massive.

Dalton Rushing headlines the deal for Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old catcher tied for second among minor league catchers with 26 home runs in 2024, while improving defensively behind the plate. Add Andy Pages, and it gets even better. The 24-year-old has had a productive 2025 in the majors, batting .280 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.

This kind of return would soften the blow of losing Skenes, who is already the face of Pittsburgh sports. But it would also go down as an all-time blockbuster deal—one that would break baseball media.