Former GM Reveals ‘Serious’ Trade Interest For Pirates Ace

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is still a month and half away, but that hasn’t stopped various baseball insiders from evaluating the potential needs of buyers and sellers yet to be identified.

The Pittsburgh Pirates once again find themselves well represented in the rumor mill, but as a team that still has hopes of making a postseason run, it remains to be seen how Pirates general manager Ben Cherington will approach adding or subtracting from his roster before July 31.

There’s already been plenty of speculation regarding potential trade proposals involving key pieces such as outfielder Bryan Reynolds, starting pitcher Andrew Heaney, and closer David Bednar, but according to former MLB GM and current Athletic baseball insider Jim Bowden, that hasn’t stopped rival clubs from calling about Paul Skenes.

In his recent article breaking down the latest MLB trade rumors and chatter, Bowden revealed that Skenes’ status as untouchable via trade hasn’t stopped rival GM’s from picking up the phone.

“As we’ve written many times, the Pirates have no interest in trading Paul Skenes as this year’s deadline,” wrote Bowden. “However, multiple GMs have told me that won’t stop them from making serious offers to acquire him. And, if you’re the Pirates, you have to listen because you have so many needs to fill — on your big-league team and also in your farm system.”

With the Pirates currently 29-42 and 13.5 games back of the National League Central leading Chicago Cubs, it’s likely the Pirates front office will decide what direction to take at the trade deadline very soon. While the phone is certainly ringing in Cherington’s office, winning baseball games remains the team’s primary focus.