Pirates insider has depressing Paul Skenes prediction that will have fans in shambles

When discourse emerged earlier this season about the Pittsburgh Pirates potentially trading Paul Skenes, the front office was quick to assure fans it wouldn't happen.

Unnamed Pirates executives have said there's "no chance, no way, no how" of a Skenes trade coming this year and GM Ben Cherington said a deal is "not part of the conversation at all." But their pledges haven't gone very far, and haven't stopped rival fans and front offices from dreaming up potential Skenes trade packages.

The assumptions that Skenes will be traded aren't exactly unfounded. Pittsburgh hasn't spent any meaningful money to improve the team in years, and even with Skenes on the roster, it hasn't shown an inclination to start. If the Pirates don't start building around him and jump into contention soon, he's almost guaranteed to walk as a free agent — they'll likely trade him before it gets to that point to get a return for the best young pitcher in the league.

But nobody thought it would be this soon. Pittsburgh beat reporters already see the writing on the wall. In Noah Hiles' July 10 mailbag for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he said he sees 2026 as Skenes' final full season in a Pirates uniform. He lists multiple reasons for this, including a potential lockout in 2027, but the Pirates' refusal to build around Skenes will be the biggest reason, by far.

Pirates insider Noah Hiles has grim prediction for the end of Paul Skenes' time in Pittsburgh

Skenes has pitched to a 1.94 ERA (which leads all qualified pitchers) in over 116 innings this season. He's logged a 0.922 WHIP, 125 strikeouts, 30 walks, and he leads MLB with a 220 ERA+. Skenes secured his second All-Star nod this season, to go along with his Rookie of the Year honors and Cy Young Award/MVP votes from last season. A pitcher of his caliber, of course, hopes to pitch for a winning team, and the Pirates' spending history doesn't indicate that will happen.

But there is time for things to change. Pittsburgh has elite talent on the roster in Skenes and plenty of impressive prospects coming up through the farm system, like Bubba Chandler, Konnor Griffin and more. When they reach the big leagues, all it would take is a few top-tier free agent or trade additions to make the Pirates a serious competitor in the NL Central.

Pittsburgh has a franchise cornerstone in Skenes, and trading him for more young, controllable players would be like starting from square one, which would be unacceptable. The Pirates have been bottom dwellers in MLB for far too long, and wasting a generational talent like Skenes should be out of the question. Pirates ownership has all the resources, along with one of the best ballparks in the league and a dedicated fanbase, to make Skenes want to be a Pirate for life. The organization needs to use them now more than ever.