Pirates Urged to Trade Ace Paul Skenes to Yankees

Former MLB GM says Pittsburgh should accept a blockbuster deal from New York

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into overlapping planes of color, representing the complex negotiations and competing interests surrounding a potential trade of the Pirates' ace.A potential blockbuster trade of star pitcher Paul Skenes could reshape the futures of both the Pirates and Yankees.Today in Pittsburgh

A former MLB general manager is urging the Pittsburgh Pirates to trade star pitcher Paul Skenes to the New York Yankees for a package that includes top prospects Cam Schlittler, Spencer Jones, Carlos Lagrange, and George Lombard Jr. The analyst believes the Pirates should take the deal now before Skenes' value drops closer to free agency, when he could command a record-breaking contract the small-market Pirates likely can't afford.

Why it matters

Skenes is one of the best young pitchers in baseball, having won the Cy Young Award last season. The Pirates face a difficult decision on whether to try to sign him long-term or trade him for a massive prospect haul before he hits free agency, where he could price himself out of their budget.

The details

The former MLB GM, Jim Bowden, believes the Yankees' reported offer of Cam Schlittler, Spencer Jones, Carlos Lagrange, and George Lombard Jr. is too good for the Pirates to pass up. Bowden thinks Schlittler could develop into a true ace, and the rest of the package would give the Pirates a strong foundation of young talent in return for Skenes.

  • Skenes is under contract with the Pirates for three more seasons.
  • Skenes is expected to command a record-breaking contract when he hits free agency.

The players

Paul Skenes

A star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who won the Cy Young Award last season.

Jim Bowden

A former MLB general manager who is now a baseball analyst and insider.

Cam Schlittler

A top Yankees pitching prospect included in the reported trade offer for Skenes.

Spencer Jones

A top Yankees hitting prospect included in the reported trade offer for Skenes.

Carlos Lagrange

A Yankees prospect included in the reported trade offer for Skenes.

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What they’re saying

“I know when [Skenes'] free agent days are up, he is not going to be able to sign long-term in Pittsburgh. They're not going to pay him $400 million or whatever it's going to take at that time.”

— Jim Bowden, Former MLB General Manager

What’s next

The Pirates have not indicated they are actively shopping Skenes, and no trade talks between the teams have been reported. However, the Yankees' rumored offer could put pressure on the Pirates to at least consider moving their ace before he reaches free agency.

The takeaway

This potential trade highlights the difficult decisions small-market teams like the Pirates face when they develop superstar players. While keeping Skenes long-term would be a dream for Pirates fans, the team may have to prioritize maximizing his trade value before he prices himself out of their budget.