The Pittsburgh Pirates have publicly stated that they don’t want to trade Paul Skenes. But as one former MLB general manager notes, it might be their wisest course of action.
On Wednesday, former GM Jim Bowden laid out five different trade proposals that might motivate the Pirates to trade away their 22-year-old ace. One of those proposals is for the Boston Red Sox.
A trade for Skenes wouldn’t come cheap. Bowden described the young star as “the most valuable trade asset in decades” due to his unique combination of talent, price and youth.
“He has more than four years of team control remaining and is the hardest type of player to acquire in the major leagues: a true ace, face of the franchise and fan favorite,” Bowden wrote.”
So what would it take for Boston to pry away one of the brightest talents in baseball? Bowden suggests a package of prospects: OF Roman Anthony, 2B/SS Franklin Arias, 1B/OF Justin Gonzales, RHP Luis Perales.
“To start the package, the Red Sox could offer Anthony, the top position-player prospect in baseball, whom the Pirates could promote to the majors immediately, giving him a chance to win NL Rookie of the Year this season,” Bowden wrote. “They’d also improve their longer-term future by acquiring a middle infielder in Arias, a power bat in Gonzales and a power arm in Perales. Meanwhile, for Boston, a rotation led by Skenes and Garrett Crochet would be a game-changer.”
Skenes has already established himself as one of the most exciting talents in baseball. However, Pittsburgh doesn’t have much else on the roster.
Here’s the other thing: The franchise is notoriously cheap. Bowden doubted that the Pirates would be willing or able to shell out the “$350 million to $400 million” it would take to lock up Skenes before he hits free agency.
For now, the Pirates are saying all the right things. When asked about the idea of trading Skenes, former Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said the idea was off the table.
“No, it’s not at all part of the conversation,” Cherington said to reporters.
But should it be? Pittsburgh has the second-worst record in the National League and not much optimism to be a contender during the next few years. A Skenes trade could alter the course of the franchise moving forward.
But it wouldn’t come cheap. If you’re the Red Sox, you have to consider it – even if it means giving up the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
