The Pirates are taking pictures down the thought of buying and selling reigning Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr and pitching phenom Paul Skenes.
Pirates common supervisor Ben Cherington was stern in his response to reporters when the query arose forward of Pittsburgh’s 8-5 loss to the Brewers on Thursday.
“No, it’s not part of the conversation at all,” Cherington bluntly instructed reporters when he was requested in regards to the thought.
The thought of buying and selling Skenes has popped lately with the Pirates in the midst of a 17-34 season because the ballclub sits in final place within the NL Central.
Skenes, greatest identified outdoors of the baseball world because the boyfriend of gymnastics star and social media influencer Olivia “Livvy” Dunne, has been a sensation on the hill since making his MLB debut final season and instantly turned a star on the Pirates.
He began within the All-Star Sport for the Nationwide League in 2024 and took dwelling Rookie of the Yr honors, however he’s not obtained a lot assist from his teammates this season amid one other unhealthy yr for Pittsburgh baseball.
Skenes is 3-5 with a 2.44 ERA, however the Pirates have gone 3-7 in his 10 begins this yr.
The LSU product threw his first profession full sport on Sunday, putting out 9 batters over eight innings, although the Pirates nonetheless misplaced 1-0 to the Phillies.
The Pirates’ struggles and the dearth of run help for Skenes — they scored a mixed 10 runs over his final six begins — have led some distinguished MLB media members to lift the thought of buying and selling Skenes.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan introduced up the thought throughout an look on “The Pat McAfee Show” final week, and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand additionally lately posed the thought.
However, for now, Cherington will not be even near entertaining the thought.
