A massive trade proposal has the Los Angeles Dodgers adding another generational talent in Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star pitcher Paul Skenes.
The 22-year-old Skenes is under contract through the 2029 season, but the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year has been mentioned heavily in trade rumors. That’s a testament to his all-world talents, but it’s also another reminder that team owner Bob Nutting is unlikely to spend the necessary money to make Skenes a Pirate for life.
Nutting is a notoriously cheap owner, and a world-class talent like Paul Skenes may not be keen on staying in Pittsburgh long-term if they fail to build a winner around him. So for all we know, another team is a “can’t refuse offer” away from getting Skenes.
Jim Riley of BALLCap Sports recently floated several possible trade ideas involving the No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.
In one proposal, Riley has the Dodgers acquiring Skenes in exchange for prospects Josue De Paula (an outfielder, the Dodgers’ second-ranked prospect by MLB.com) and Emil Morales (shortstop, ranked sixth by MLB), catcher/left fielder Dalton Rushing and star outfielder Andy Pages.
A player of Paul Skenes’ caliber would easily cost at least two elite prospects and a young roster player. So Riley’s proposal here actually makes sense, especially when you look at the packages it cost the San Diego Padres to get Juan Soto in 2022.
Paul Skenes Would Win Multiple Titles With Dodgers
The defending World Series champions are already the team to beat with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman leading the way. Their rotation is already stacked with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, with Ohtani’s return to pitching also on the horizon.
Add a generational talent like Paul Skenes to the mix, and the Dodgers could just go ahead and start planning several World Series championship parades.
Also Read: Major Twist Reportedly Emerges In Paul Skenes Blockbuster Trade Talks