{"id":100624,"date":"2025-05-20T21:30:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T01:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=100624"},"modified":"2025-05-20T21:32:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T01:32:25","slug":"three-eye-popping-trade-packages-for-paul-skenes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/05\/20\/three-eye-popping-trade-packages-for-paul-skenes\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Eye-Popping Trade Packages For Paul Skenes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2019 generational star pitcher Paul Skenes. That\u2019s right\u2014the Pirates\u2019 ace has been put on the \u201cchopping block.\u201d But has he really?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jeff Passan, one of MLB\u2019s most prized analysts who works for ESPN, took to <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DomDiTommaso\/status\/1922732080900833580\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pat McAfee Show<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, saying:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe truth is, there are already teams that are going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline this year. I don\u2019t anticipate that he\u2019s going to be moved, but there\u2019s 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\u2019s a depressing reality.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve 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 \u201crebuilding strategy.\u201d What\u2019s different about Paul Skenes? Why not move the future starting pitcher for Team USA while he\u2019s at the highest point of his career currently?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, you\u2019ll 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\u2019s have a little bit of fun.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Boston Red Sox<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Pirates receive:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SS Marcelo Mayer (No. 8 MLB, No. 2 Red Sox)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OF Roman Anthony (No. 1 MLB, No. 1 Red Sox)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP Brayan Bello<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP Luis Perales (No. 4 Red Sox)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Red Sox receive:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP Paul Skenes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why This Paul Skenes Trade Works for the Red Sox<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Boston Red Sox have been missing that identity to fall behind\u2014or in front of\u2014Garrett Crochet. This offseason, the Sox acquired the<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/11\/red-sox-acquire-garrett-crochet-from-white-sox\/\" target=\"_self\"> lefty southpaw from the White Sox<\/a> for a package of catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adding Crochet has so far been exactly what they needed in their rotation. He&#8217;s flashed a 2.00 ERA in 63 innings pitched, along with 73 strikeouts. The problem? The Red Sox don\u2019t have a safety valve to fall back on, leaving the rest of their rotation as a huge question mark.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sure, losing your top two prospects isn\u2019t 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/10\/31\/five-dodgers-2024-world-series-moments\/\" target=\"_self\">World Series favorites<\/a> for the next several seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why This Works for the Pirates<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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&#8217;s been missing since the prime days of Andrew McCutchen in the early 2010s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anthony has gotten off to an electric start for the Worcester Red Sox, hitting .322 with a .446 OBP and .949 OPS\u2014elite numbers that will result in a call-up this summer. Along with this, the Pirates receive Brayan Bello, who peaked as the Red Sox\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Baltimore Orioles<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Pirates receive:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2B Jordan Westburg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C Samuel Basallo (No. 16 MLB, No. 1 Orioles)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1B Coby Mayo (No. 17 MLB, No. 2 Orioles)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP Chayce McDermott (No. 4 Orioles)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OF Dylan Beavers (No. 6 Orioles)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Orioles receive:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP Paul Skenes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why This Skenes Trade Works for the Orioles<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Orioles have a serious problem: starting pitching. Baltimore didn&#8217;t address its rotation, unless you count 41-year-old Charlie Morton, who&#8217;s 0\u20137 with a 7.68 ERA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their rotation was even a problem in 2024. Corbin Burnes was the ace, but he left <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/12\/28\/corbin-burnes-signs-diamondbacks\/\" target=\"_self\">for the Diamondbacks<\/a> this offseason. Grayson Rodriguez, the team\u2019s No. 2 option, has struggled to stay healthy. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acquiring Skenes would be costly\u2014likely costing them starting second baseman Jordan Westburg and their top two prospects\u2014but 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why This Works for the Pirates<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with Westburg, the Pirates would receive Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo\u2014two highly touted prospects who combined for 44 home runs in the minors last season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another major piece is Chayce McDermott, the right-hander who\u2019s appeared in just seven major league innings. McDermott\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Los Angeles Dodgers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Pirates receive:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2B Hyeseong Kim<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C\/OF Dalton Rushing (No. 15 MLB, No. 1 Dodgers)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OF Andy Pages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP River Ryan (No. 9 Dodgers)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LHP Jackson Ferris (No. 63 MLB, No. 5 Dodgers)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OF Zyhir Hope (No. 45 MLB, No. 3 Dodgers)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Dodgers receive:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RHP Paul Skenes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why A Skenes Trade Works for the Dodgers<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/19\/dodgers-starting-rotation-mlb\/\" target=\"_self\">elite rotation<\/a> of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, and more. And that\u2019s not even counting the possible return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A big issue for the Dodgers the past two seasons has been the health of their rotation. Already this year, they\u2019ve lost Ohtani, Sasaki, Snell, Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan\u2014you name it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, the Dodgers\u2019 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With five top-100 prospects, the Dodgers can afford to give up talent, especially when they\u2019re already receiving production from <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/05\/13\/dodgers-patience-michael-conforto-being-tested\/\" target=\"_self\">players like Andy Pages<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why This Works for the Pirates<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This would be dealing with the devil: giving the best team in baseball one of the best arms in baseball. But the return? Massive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u2014one that would break baseball media.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Image Credit: \u00a9 Kyle Ross-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2019 generational star pitcher Paul Skenes. That\u2019s right\u2014the Pirates\u2019 ace has been put on the \u201cchopping block.\u201d But has he really? Jeff Passan, one of MLB\u2019s most prized [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5548,"featured_media":100651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1071,35],"tags":[28818,645,6371,28596,2178],"class_list":["post-100624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","category-news","tag-hyeseong-kim","tag-nl-central","tag-paul-skenes","tag-roman-anthony","tag-shohei-ohtani"],"modified_by":"Chris Drosehn","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100624"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100653,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100624\/revisions\/100653"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}