Could Paul Skenes be on the move?
With the Pittsburgh Pirates well on their way to missing the playoffs yet again, rumors are swirling about the club perhaps looking to cash-in on their prize possession and who many believe to be the best pitcher in all of baseball at just 22-years-old.
Most teams would be looking to quickly extend a generational talent in Skenes while also attempting to build around them while they’re still cost controlled.
However, owner Bob Nutting has been notorious for refusing to put the money into the club that’s necessary to win at an even baseline competitive level…which begs the question, how long is it until they decide to move on from Skenes?
In a proposed deal by Bleacher Report’s Zachardy D. Rymer, the Los Angeles Dodgers decide to break baseball fans’ brains yet again by parting ways with three of their top prospects for the generational arm in Skenes.
Los Angeles Dodgers Receive: Paul Skenes
Pittsburgh Pirates Receive: OF, Josue de Paula (Dodgers #1 prospect), OF/C, Dalton/Rushing (Dodgers #2 prospect), SS, Alex Freeland (Dodgers #4 prospect)
With injuries to Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, this trade would actually make some sense for the Dodgers, other then simply flexing their muscle and acquiring perhaps the best pitcher in all of baseball before he even hits his athletic prime.
If the Dodgers were to get back to full health, a rotation of Skenes, Sasaki, Snell, Yamamoto, and Glasnow would be one of, if not the best starting rotation in Major League Baseball history.
On the unfortunate side of the deal, the Pirates would be parting ways with their generational talent, likely because of the owners not wanting to pay Skenes what he’s going warrant (and flat-out deserve).
However, if you’re going to deal someone of Skenes’ talent and age, getting the most talented team in baseball’s three (of their top four) prospects, who all rank in the top-100 in all of baseball is exactly what you want.
