Major League Baseball has been abuzz recently with speculation about the future of Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ standout 22-year-old pitcher. Despite being regarded as a leading contender for the National League Cy Young Award this year, questions loom over whether the Pirates will trade him, given their current lackluster team performance. The rumored discussions about a Paul Skenes Pittsburgh Pirates trade have sparked intense interest, though the Cubs’ Ian Happ publicly expressed skepticism about the likelihood of such a move occurring anytime soon.
Ian Happ Dismisses Trade Rumors as Media Hype
On Wednesday, Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs left fielder, spoke on the Rahimi and Harris sports talk show on 670 The Score, addressing the swirling trade rumors. Happ suggested that much of the chatter is driven by media attention rather than actual trade negotiations.
“There are a lot of reasons why it’s happening,”
Happ remarked, explaining the early rumors surrounding Skenes.
“Honestly, I don’t think they [Pirates] are going to trade Paul Skenes. I think that’s more of a media blitz than reality. I don’t think Paul Skenes will be traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates, I would be shocked.”
Cubs’ Interest and Front Office Priorities
The Chicago Cubs have been mentioned as potential suitors for Skenes, though no reliable sources have confirmed any imminent deal. The Cubs recently lost their own pitching ace, Justin Steele, for the season due to elbow surgery, increasing the organization’s interest in strengthening their pitching staff before the July 31 trade deadline. Despite this, Happ remains doubtful that the Pirates will part with their emerging star.
“When you look at the game today, there is this, hey, if you have a superstar talent and you don’t think that you are going to competitive for one to two years, does it make more sense to move that guy and to get two big league ready players plus prospects that you think could be superstars,”
Happ explained, acknowledging the strategic reasoning behind such potential trades.
Implications for the Pirates and Future Moves
Paul Skenes is under contract and will not reach free agency until 2030, positioning him as a valuable asset for the Pirates as they evaluate rebuilding versus competitive strategies. While fans and analysts debate whether trading Skenes will accelerate the team’s future success, the current consensus among insiders, reinforced by Happ’s comments, suggests that Pittsburgh may hold onto their ace for the near future. As the trade deadline approaches, the baseball community continues to watch closely, anticipating whether the Pirates will alter their roster or maintain their course around their top pitching talent.