PITTSBURGH — The Pirates are finding themselves in a familiar, troubling position as they sit at the bottom of the standings, trying to navigate a tumultuous season that has already led to a managerial change and a flurry of challenges off the field. With the team struggling, nearly anything seems possible for a last-place squad – except for one bold move: trading their ace, Paul Skenes.
In a decisive statement, general manager Ben Cherington brushed aside speculation about dealing the reigning National League Rookie of the Year. “No, it’s not part of the conversation at all,” he stated, clearly signaling the team’s commitment to their promising pitcher.
Currently, Pittsburgh is a staggering 11½ games behind a playoff spot. A major factor contributing to this disappointing showing is an anemic offense that consistently ranks at or near the bottom in offensive categories—last in runs, slugging percentage, and OPS, and nearly dead last in home runs and batting average.
There was a flicker of hope during an 8-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, where the Pirates managed to score five runs for the first time in nearly a month. This brief spark, however, is overshadowed by a grim streak that saw them fail to score more than four runs in 26 consecutive games, tying a major league record held by a few teams, including the 1969 California Angels.
An eye-opening fact from that game: the Pirates left 10 runners on base, a telling reflection of their season-long struggles to capitalize on scoring opportunities. It’s clear that this is not the scenario that anyone in the organization envisioned during spring training. With expectations set high, from Cherington to Skenes to now-former manager Derek Shelton—who was replaced by Don Kelly—there was hope for progress after back-to-back seasons stuck at 76-86.
Yet, as we look closely at this season after Opening Day, it’s hard to overlook the regression. Skenes, in particular, has been subject to this trend, as he’s recorded a mixed 3-5 record in his eight starts, including a recent frustrating 1-0 loss to the Phillies. Despite allowing only three hits and delivering the first complete game of his career, even he hasn’t been able to will the team forward.
Turning 23 next week, Skenes has made his presence felt since being called up a year ago. With years of control still left under his contract—he won’t be eligible for arbitration until after 2026—Skenes stands out as a valuable asset in an organization that has historically been conservative with payroll. The Pirates kicked off the season with a budget just under $88 million, among the lowest in all of baseball, surpassed only by a select few teams like the White Sox and Marlins.
Unfortunately, Pittsburgh’s return on investment has not shown the results they’d hoped for. While the starting rotation has shown signs of promise with Skenes (2.44 ERA), Mitch Keller (3.88), Andrew Heaney (2.91), and Bailey Falter (3.50) all demonstrating solid performance, their collective record of 10-17 tells a different story—one painted by a lack of offensive production.
The team’s lineup is lacking depth, with contributions primarily coming from a few key players: two-time All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds, beloved veteran Andrew McCutchen, and center fielder Oneil Cruz. Beyond that, an impressive pool of pitching prospects exists, but the same can’t be said for position players, as the pipeline appears pretty bare even five years into Cherington’s leadership.
Top draft picks like catcher Henry Davis, who was selected first overall in 2021, are still a work in progress as he continues to find his footing in the majors. Second baseman Nick Gonzales is recovering from an ankle injury that has hindered his development into a consistent contributor. Meanwhile, other former first-round picks are still several years away from making any significant impact.
Cherington has acknowledged the imperative for their Triple-A players to truly make their mark by performing well enough to warrant a call-up. “We want guys from Triple-A to pound the door down,” he explained. “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.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Cherington remains hopeful that the team can find its footing over the next 110 games or so. He firmly believes that Skenes will be central to any revival the Pirates achieve. “We’ve just got to get better,” Cherington stated, urging for an improved brand of baseball that naturally leads to more wins. As the month’s end approaches, it will be interesting to see how this narrative unfolds as the Pirates strive to rediscover their winning ways.
