What would a blockbuster Paul Skenes trade look like for the Braves?

“You can make the argument that they should trade him now,” Passan said.”I’m not going to because I think the Pirates, with some of the players that they have coming up, would have a chance to win if they were to go out and actually bring in some offensive players and sign some free agents. But the truth is, there are teams already that are going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline this year. And 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 while he has his most value.”

Everyone knows Paul Skenes is the best young pitcher on the planet. If he just gets to free agency healthy, he’ll make Gerrit Cole’s contract look like chump change. The Pirates have long been notoriously cheap. Despite having a once-in-a-generation talent like Skenes, nobody expects the Pirates to spend money around him.

If Bob Nutting makes the mistake of signing off on a Paul Skenes trade, the Braves should at least throw their hat in the ring, but I don’t think fans understand what that kind of haul would even begin to look like.

I saw 680 The Fan debating whether they would give up Drake Baldwin, A.J. Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep, with some of the hosts shrugging it off immediately, and many fans in comments agreeing.

Regardless of the side you’re on, they’re not even close to what a Paul Skenes trade would cost. A Juan Soto-like haul would be just the beginning, and remember, when the Padres traded for Soto, it came with two and a half years of control.

Skenes is the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, he finished in third place in the NL Cy Young Award voting, and he isn’t arbitration eligible until 2027!

So, what would a Braves trade package for Paul Skenes really look like?

Braves Trade Package For Paul Skenes

• Drake Baldwin
• AJ Smith-Shawver
• Hurston Waldrep
• JR Ritchie
• Cam Caminiti
• Owen Murphy

The Braves two star rookies and their top four prospects with the highest upside might be enough to at least get the conversation started with the Pirates.

You wouldn’t do it? Well, neither would I, which is why the idea of the Braves, or any other organization, trading for Paul Skenes this year feels like a fairy tale. The Pirates would essentially need an entire starting rotation of prospects along with some proven commodities to even consider striking a deal.

Hell, that might not even tickle Don Kelly’s peach. This would be the biggest trade in MLB history and require a historic haul.