Starting pitcher Paul Skenes, in his brief career, has 34 MLB starts, 47 total earned runs. Players like this never become available, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are in such a rut that even a generational talent like Skenes can't pull them out of it. Their owner refuses to spend, their attendance is dropping, and it may only be a matter of time until Skenes leaves them anyway.
So what would it take for the Philadelphia Phillies to pry him away from their in-state rival?
The package almost certainly has to start with Andrew Painter, the Phillies' No. 1 prospect and No. 5 in all of baseball. The hard-throwing right-hander is building his way back from Tommy John surgery and could make an impact for the Pirates this year. Justin Crawford, in his two full years of pro ball, has made a ton of contact and gotten on base at a very high clip. That’s led to a career .316 average and .371 on-base percentage with a strikeout rate of 18.6 percent heading into the 2025 season. Unfortunately for Phillies fans, this package is still not enough. It would also require either Mick Abel or Eduardo Tait, depending on who the Pirates value more.
Why the Phillies Should Trade for Paul Skenes
The opportunity to run out a playoff rotation of Zack Wheeler, Skenes, Christoper Sanchez, and Jesús Luzardo is too great to pass up. The best thing you could hope for Andrew Painter to become is Paul Skenes. Abel, who showed flashes of his brilliant potential in his major league debut this year, has also struggled with consistency in the minor leagues.
The Phillies are in a win-now mode, and Skenes not only can contribute now, but can be your ace for the next 10-15 years.
How Do the Phillies Convince the Pirates This Trade is Enough?
We sell them on the potential.
Andrew Painter has shown the ability to dominate hitters, maybe not to Paul Skenes' level, but he has been the number one prospect in baseball before for a reason. Mick Abel's first career start did nothing but boost his value, add in the excitement that Justin Crawford brings to the park every day and the Pirates may just be willing to part with their first overall pick from just over a year ago.
The Pirates' owner is not going to pay Skenes what he is worth, John Middleton has shown that he is willing to spend his money, and what better way than having two top-five pitchers at the front end of your rotation?