MLB Rumors: Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Chasing Dubious Cy Young Record

The Pittsburgh Pirates have given the rest of Major League Baseball it’s final answer when it comes to the question of trading ace Paul Skenes.

“(A) team executive who inquired about a trade for Paul Skenes was told: Not happening (no surprise there, but doesn’t hurt to ask),” the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported Friday.

On Sunday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale entertained the possibility that Skenes could break Jacob deGrom’s record for fewest wins by a Cy Young-winning starter.

The reigning National League Rookie of the Year has just four victories this year. DeGrom had 10 wins when he won the NL Cy Young Award in in 2018 with the New York Mets. DeGrom repeated as Cy Young winner the next season with just 11 wins.

“Skenes has a 2.01 ERA, including 131 strikeouts over 121 innings, but somehow he is just 4-8,” Nightengale wrote. “He has permitted just nine earned runs in his last eight starts with a 1.77 ERA, but is winless. He has 13 winless starts this season in which he’s permitted two or fewer runs. (Skenes) will need a shoulder to cry on after the season, Cy Young or not.”

Playing for the last-place Pirates, Skenes is having a season for the ages. He’s tied with Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal for the best WAR (4.9) by a pitcher this year. In addition, the righty is second in the NL in WHIP (0.93), fifth in innings pitched (121) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (131).

The only NL pitcher with a similar resume is Zack Wheeler, who anchors the starting rotation for the first-place Philadelphia Phillies. The right-hander is 9-3 with a 2.36 ERA this season. Wheeler is first in the NL in WHIP (0.86) and strikeouts (154). His 4.8 WAR is second-best to Skenes.

Wheeler, 35, gets the ball Monday when the Boston Red Sox visit Citizens Bank Park.

The 23-year-old Skenes, who started the All-Star Game last week, returns to the mound Monday as well when the Pirates open a three-game series with the Tigers.

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