The Pittsburgh Pirates are a breeding ground for mediocrity and sadness. They have become an organization where either great promising talent goes to die, or a place that they RUN FROM whenever a greener pasture comes calling their name. It sucks for Pirates fans, because they have to deal with the perpetual “sucking” on a yearly basis. But when you have an owner who REFUSES to spend any money……it’s just something that you have to live with.

The city of Pittsburgh just isn’t allowed to have nice things, and Pirates fans all across the country are probably punching air because I’m reminding them of it. But I have to bring it up again. I have to talk about the “suckiness” that is this organization, because I need to preface this one stat that has been making it’s rounds around social media for the past few days.

Players since 1901 to have 300+ strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA through 44 career MLB games:

Paul Skenes

That’s it. pic.twitter.com/p8bR63eI4l

— Greg Harvey (@BetweenTheNums) July 22, 2025

That…..that is an issue for Pirates fans. For almost 124 years, Major League baseball hasn’t seen a pitcher as dominant as the former LSU Tiger. We haven’t see anyone in their first 44 career games mow down people with the EFFICIENCY and DOMINANCE of Livvy Dunne’s boyfriend.

He has been a juggernaut of an arm for the Bucs, and who should be a guaranteed win every time he steps on the mound. In just 44 career starts (260 IP), the #1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft has posted a stat-line consisting of;

11.2 WAR, 16-11 Record, 1.94 ERA, 307 SO

Paul Skenes has been the BEST THING that this team has had in DECADES, but sadly…..the rest of the roster isn’t built up enough to match his greatness. They can’t give him the run support that he needs (5-8 record in 2025), and they can’t win when he’s not on the field. If anything……he’s just the living embodiment of a Maserati in a trailer park.

He is not providing any value to this team (which is CRAZY to say). Sure, he’s creating headlines for the organization. Sure, he is giving fans a legitimate REASON to watch Pirates games. But besides that? He can’t really do anything else, if the rest of the team is put together with twist-ties and duct tape.

That, my friends……is why he is one of the biggest names floating around prior to this year’s deadline. That is why roughly 62% of the baseball related posts that you see on social media are of people talking about possible destinations that the righty can end up at. Granted; it does sound like a wild deal, since he still has 5-years of team control AND the Pirates are reportedly not interested in moving him at this time….

“Just to be clear, the Pirates have no intention of trading Paul Skenes at this point.”@JeffPassan clears up Paul Skenes trade rumors on the @PatMcAfeeShow. pic.twitter.com/KH9QMMuahs

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 2, 2025

But with the position that this team is in, and the fact that I just can’t see them building a contender within the next 2-3 years (let alone the next 5)……the thought of moving Skenes at this juncture just seems like a smart move, if someone is willing to do a deal. The thought of fielding offers for the 2024 Rookie of the Year just doesn’t sound like a bad idea, ESPECIALLY if they could yield a gigantic haul in return.

The question though is……where could he end up? If anything, it would be crazy to leave the Dodgers and the Yankees out of the mix. The Dodgers have been shelling out MILLIONS to it’s current roster, and have the talent to spare. And the Yankees are…..well…..the Yankees.

Looking past them though…..I couldn’t even venture a guess as to who else would be in the running. Sure, my Chicago Cubs have been talked about. But they don’t have the necessary assets to bring in Skenes. It wouldn’t be worth moving Cassie, Shaw, Ballesteros, AND MORE to bring in someone who’s only going to play every fifth day. That, although exciting, would be a MONSTER step backwards for the entire program.

Simply put; it’s going to be a wild ride to the end of the month, and I’m sure there will be some fireworks along the way. But if the Pirates get a call that they can’t refuse (and I’m sure they will), then they would be DUMB to pass up on it.

In the end though, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.