The Pittsburgh Pirates have not had much going for them over the past few seasons. They have not made the postseason since 2015, when they lost in the NL Wild Card Series. Despite their continued struggles, things are starting to look up for the Pirates in 2025.
One player who will have a significant say in the Pirates’ success is starting pitcher Paul Skenes. He made his major league debut in 2024 and was immediately one of the best pitchers in baseball. He started 23 games and pitched to an ERA of 1.96. That was good enough to win NL Rookie of the Year and finish third in NL Cy Young voting. But could the Pirates consider trading their franchise cornerstone?
Erik Kratz Thinks Paul Skenes Could Be Moved
On the “Foul Territory” show, former MLB catcher Erik Kratz said he thinks there is a better chance the Pirates trade Skenes in the future than sign him to an extension. Kratz said the Pirates should “blow the door off of the trade market, set the bar so high.”
Paul Skenes makes the Pirates money – so why not give him an extension now? @scottbraun @ajpierzynski12 @ErikKratz31 pic.twitter.com/YJX5fP04d7
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 5, 2025
One issue with many MLB teams, including the Pirates, is their unwillingness to spend money. Whenever they have a franchise cornerstone, they tend to lose them in free agency or trade them away when they know they cannot pay them.
We saw that with Juan Soto during his time with the Washington Nationals. Skenes could bring back a massive return in a trade, but he is not the type of player you trade. It would be wise of Pittsburgh to extend Skenes as soon as possible as the more success he has, the more his price tag will go up.
If the Pirates are serious about competing in the future, Skenes needs to remain on their team. At 22 years old, he is a once-in-a-generation pitcher and already one of the best in baseball.
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Future Outlook
With Skenes in the fold, the Pirates have a bright future when it comes to starting pitching. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller join Skenes in the rotation for 2025, but they also have one of the top pitching prospects in Bubba Chandler, who should be called up within the next year or two.
Also, the Pirates have the luxury of playing in a winnable division. Last season, the Pirates finished 76-86 and could see an uptick in wins for the 2025 season. While Pittsburgh may not be championship contenders this season, it has a shot to compete for a playoff birth.
