Last year, the Pittsburgh Pirates went 76-86, and while that record is nothing to celebrate, you have to go back to 2018 to find the last time the franchise won more games.
But the biggest takeaway from the Pirates’ 2024 season was the emergence of Paul Skenes, the top overall draft pick in 2023 who electrified the majors in his rookie season. With Skenes the face of the franchise, there was momentum behind Pittsburgh entering the 2025 MLB season, but momentum doesn’t equate to success, and the Pirates have one of the worst records in baseball at 17-34 entering play on Friday.
Given that there are holes up and down the roster, the possibility of trading Skenes and getting multiple impact players was pitched to Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. The idea is that a generational talent like Skenes could attract a Herschel Walker-like return from another team.
On Thursday, Cherington was asked by the media if he had at least considered the idea.
“No, it’s not part of the conversation at all,” Cherington said flatly, making it clear that of all ideas to improve Pittsburgh’s roster and record, that is not one of them.
Pittsburgh has the second-worst record in the National League and is already 13.5 games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs. The team is on pace to finish with a 54-108 record, which would be its worst in 72 years, since the 1953 Pirates went 50-104.
The Pirates haven’t finished over .500 since 2018, and they haven’t made the postseason since 2015. This current nine-year drought without the playoffs is the second-longest in the majors, trailing only the Los Angeles Angels, who are on a 10-year postseason drought.
Skenes certainly hasn’t been a reason for the team’s record, even if his numbers aren’t on par with what they were last year. The right-handed pitcher is 3-5 on the season as he’s gotten very little run support. Pittsburgh has scored three or fewer runs in each of Skenes’s last six starts, which is why his record is under .500 despite a 2.44 ERA that is fourth-best in the Senior Circuit.
The lack of support for the ace was epitomized in his last start on Sunday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Skenes threw the first complete game of his MLB career, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out nine, tying his season high. However, that one run was more than what Pittsburgh scored—he took the loss in a 1-0 defeat.
As a team, the Pirates’ ERA of 4.05 is essentially at the league average of 4.04. The Pirates’ hitters and fielders are the ones most to blame for the poor record.
Averaging just 2.96 runs per game, Pittsburgh ranks last at the plate. The team also ranks last in doubles and on-base percentage, while ranking second-to-last in home runs, batting average and OPS. From April 23 to May 21, a streak of 26 games, Pittsburgh scored four runs or fewer in every one of those contests. The streak ended when the Pirates scored five runs in a loss Thursday, but it tied for the longest in MLB history.
Meanwhile, in the field, Pittsburgh has committed the third-most errors among NL teams and is tied for the third-worst fielding percentage in the league.
When you’re the worst at the plate, among the bottom three in the field, and have an average pitching staff, you get a 17-34 record, as well as reporters questioning if the ace should be dealt.
Cherington is no stranger to trading away big-name players or fan favorites. When he was the GM of the Boston Red Sox, he shipped out All-Stars Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez in a deal during the 2012 season, and the following year, Boston won the World Series. He also traded away stalwarts such as Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester in separate deals. However, with Skenes on his rookie contract and not eligible for free agency until 2030, he isn’t going anywhere.
Skenes made his MLB debut on May 11, 2024, and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. With a fastball that routinely tops 100 mph, he was named NL Rookie of the Year with an 11-3 record and 1.96 ERA. He also started in the All-Star Game, becoming just the fifth rookie pitcher to receive that honor.
