Pirates News: Paul Skenes, DFA'd pitcher lands with Marlins, international signings

Sometimes it's easy to forget that reigning National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes hasn't even pitched a full MLB season yet. However, that's not stopping the Pittsburgh Pirates from taking the training wheels off in 2025.

Skenes, who made his MLB debut last May, made 23 starts in 2024. During his rookie campaign, he pitched to a 1.96 ERA over 133.0 innings and allowed just 29 earned runs, 94 hits, six home runs and 32 walks. He struck out 170 batters and held opposing hitting to a .198 batting average. He also had a 11.50 K/9 and a WHIP of 0.95. 

Skenes' 23 starts, however, fell short of the 30 starts that are generally expected of star pitchers in a given season. When asked about Skenes' workload for the upcoming campaign, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said on a recent episode of Foul Territory that he expects him to reach that threshold in 2025.

"To answer that question, yes," Shelton said. "The way he's built, the way he prepares. Until you go through a 30 start or 32 start season, you don't know, but I think he is built to pitch that way."

DFA'd Pirates reliever Brett de Geus claimed off waivers by Marlins

One of Pittsburgh's offseason acquisitions has already found a new home before he even appeared in a game for the Pirates.

Right-hander Brett de Geus, whom the Pirates acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays last month in a cash deal, has been claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins. Pittsburgh designated de Geus for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster for left-handed starting pitcher Andrew Heaney.

The 27-year-old spent time with Toronto, Miami and the Seattle Mariners last season and was DFA'd by all three. He will now return to the Marlins organization, where he won't need to be guaranteed a roster spot, as he still has minor league options remaining.

Pirates ink pair of right-handed pitchers to international deals

According to Francys Romero, the Pirates have reached an agreement with 16-year-old right-handed pitcher Juan Carlos Muñiz Jr., pending a physical. He is the first Brazilian-born player to sign in the current international period and is the son of Juan Carlos Muñiz, a former outfielder in the Marlins' minor league system and Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan who represented Brazil at the World Baseball Classic in 2013.

The Pirates also signed 24-year-old Cuban right-hander Yulian Quintana to a $10,000 bonus deal, according to Romero. Quintana, who was sanctioned by the Cuban Baseball Federation for a failed defection attempt in 2022 and suspended for two years as a result, is expected to report directly to Double-A Altoona.

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