**Pittsburgh Pirates GM Confirms Paul Skenes Will Not Be Traded**
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ general manager, Ben Cherington, has firmly stated that despite the team’s challenging start to the season, ace pitcher Paul Skenes is not on the trading block. Skenes, 22, has made a significant impact in Major League Baseball since his debut last year, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top pitchers.
While fans and analysts have speculated that trading Skenes could yield a substantial return to help the Pirates become competitive again, Cherington dismissed these ideas. “No, it’s not part of the conversation at all,” he asserted on Wednesday.
Currently, the Pirates hold a record of 17-34, placing them last in the National League Central, and they have the lowest run total in baseball, scoring just 151 runs—13 fewer than the next closest team, the Chicago White Sox. Their team batting average stands at .219, the second-lowest in the league. Although trading Skenes, who remains under team control for several more years, could potentially bring in valuable talent to enhance the lineup, Cherington is focused on improving the current roster without parting ways with their star pitcher.
“We’ve just got to get better,” Cherington emphasized. “Let’s play better baseball, and that’s going to lead to winning more games. Then, let’s wake up and see where that takes us when we get to July.” He also expressed a desire for players from Triple-A to push for a spot on the major league team, indicating optimism for improvement this season. “Everybody knows we’ve got to score more runs. That’s not going to happen just by saying it and hoping for it. You’ve got to do the work to do it.”
Skenes’ last outing was a standout performance against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he allowed only three hits and achieved the first complete game of his career. Despite the recent firing of manager Derek Shelton, the Pirates continue to struggle, with the starting rotation performing well but lacking support from the lineup and bullpen.
Skenes boasts a career record of 14-8 with a remarkable 2.12 ERA and 232 strikeouts over 195.2 innings pitched across 33 starts. The Pirates are looking to turn their season around, and Cherington’s commitment to keeping Skenes indicates a long-term vision for the team’s future.
**FAQ**
**Q: Why is Paul Skenes not being traded despite the Pirates’ poor performance?**
A: General manager Ben Cherington believes in Skenes’ potential and wants to focus on improving the current team rather than trading away their star pitcher for immediate gains.
