Former GM's Comments About Paul Skenes-Yankees Rumors Are Ridiculous
The Pittsburgh Pirates have made their decision with Paul Skenes, keeping the right-hander around. While a trade isn’t off the table until he signs an extension, there will be questions about whether the Pirates will ultimately decide to keep him. It’s tough to say that the Pirates should trade him.
To me, no matter what they’ll realistically get offered, unless it’s something that just blows Pittsburgh out of the water, it shouldn’t take a deal. However, Jim Bowden, a former GM and current writer with The Athletic, doesn’t believe that’s the case. “Based on the report that’s there, the Pirates should have gone ahead and closed the deal immediately.
And I love Paul Skenes, don’t get me wrong, but I know that when his free agent days are up, he’s 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. So you know your length of life with Skenes in Pittsburgh.
If, in fact, you were offered Cam Schlittler, I think he’s going to be a one. I said that last year, and that’s before the development of the cutter this year. I think the makeup, the delivery, the stuff, I think he’s a one.
I just think he’s an ace,” Bowden said (H/T) Empire Sports Network… “So, if I’m Pittsburgh and I got offered those four guys that I could control for six years and not have to pay any of them for three years, I have a better chance of winning with those four guys, and I have a better chance of winning longer with those four guys. So if in fact they were offered that, which I highly doubt, Ben Cherington should have made that deal immediately,” Bowden added. I get the idea here.