{"id":42366,"date":"2025-05-20T23:14:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T23:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/42366\/"},"modified":"2025-05-20T23:14:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T23:14:11","slug":"what-would-a-blockbuster-paul-skenes-trade-look-like-for-braves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/42366\/","title":{"rendered":"What would a blockbuster Paul Skenes trade look like for Braves?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paul Skenes<\/a> is a unicorn type pitcher that only comes around once every other decade. He has the makings of being an all-time great if he can stay healthy. The only problem? He currently plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.<\/p>\n

Despite lucking into a generational talent, the Pirates refuse to spend a dollar in an attempt to build around him. Their offense is the worst in baseball, and there are no signs to suggest this team will be anything other than a cellar dweller for the entirety of Skenes\u2019 rookie contract. Because of that, it\u2019s already sparked conversation around whether Pittsburgh might move the hard-throwing right hander at this year\u2019s trade deadline, just a year after making his MLB debut.<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan is the latest to suggest this as a possibility, saying several teams will be calling to check on his availability.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just Paul Skenes who deserves better,\u201d Passan said. \u201cIt\u2019s Pittsburgh Pirates fans who deserve better, and they deserve a system that allows teams to keep great players. Now, in some cases, guys will stay with small market teams; we\u2019ve seen that \u2026 But what incentive does Paul Skenes have to extend with the Pirates when the Pirates haven\u2019t shown the willingness \u2013 from Bob Nutting all the way down \u2013 or the ability to bring in guys who are going to make this team better? The Pirates haven\u2019t shown that they are worthy of a Paul Skenes extension at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates fans deserve better..<\/p>\n

What incentive does he have to extend with the Pirates right now..<\/p>\n

The Pirates haven’t shown that they are worthy of a Paul Skenes extension at this point” ~ @JeffPassan<\/a>#PMSLive<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eCkkgMFb7y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can make the argument that they should trade him now,\u201d Passan said.\u201dI\u2019m 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\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 while he has his most value.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone knows Paul Skenes is the best young pitcher on the planet. If he just gets to free agency healthy, he\u2019ll make Gerrit Cole\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t think fans understand what that kind of haul would even begin to look like.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

Would you trade Drake Baldwin and AJ Smith-Shawver for Paul Skenes? \ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n

Is that insane\u2026 or would you do it in a heartbeat? @chrisdimino<\/a> @RealMattlanta<\/a> @kingcfb<\/a> @CelliniNick<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/UpQomQQ42Z<\/a><\/p>\n

— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) May 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n