Pirates Reportedly Not Planning On Shutting Down Paul Skenes Despite Rumors

The Pittsburgh Pirates have had an exciting season despite a recent cold streak.

Pittsburgh entered the season without high expectations and yet was right in the mix for a playoff spot ahead of the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Pirates were playing so well that they decided to buy at the deadline rather than looking to sell.

There’s a lot to like about this Pirates team despite their 58-65 record. Pittsburgh is loaded with young talent and it wouldn’t be shocking to see it take a step forward in 2025 and maybe even make the playoffs.

The Pirates have some very intriguing young players, most notably All-Star flamethrower Paul Skenes. He has been everything Pittsburgh could’ve hoped for this year. Although this is the case, some have wondered if the Pirates would shut him down now with the playoffs seemingly out of the question.

It doesn’t sound like this is going to happen, though, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Stephen J. Nesbitt, and Zack Meisel.

“With playoff odds below one percent, the Pittsburgh Pirates easily could justify shutting down their electrifying ace, right-hander Paul Skenes,” Rosenthal, Nesbitt, and Meisel said. “This is Skenes’ first full professional season. He has thrown 125 1/3 innings between the majors and minors, nearly as many as he did a year ago between LSU and his brief debut in the Pirates’ system…

“The Pirates currently have no such plans, according to sources briefed on their thinking. They have no set innings limit for Skenes. The only restriction they are considering, assuming Skenes stays healthy, is potentially shortening his outings.”

Skenes has been a revelation for the Pirates this season and it sounds like fans won’t have to wait until next season to see him again.

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