That thinking drove ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan to explain a similar line of thinking, as he pointed out that Skenes is virtually guaranteed to leave the Pirates when he becomes eligible for free agency, given the state of the franchise. By trading him now, Passan argued, the team could recoup a lot of his future value before that happens.

Paul Skenes strives to control what he can control. He admitted that's been 'difficult' lately amid the Pirates' struggles despite his best efforts on the mound.

Some have started to suggest that the Pittsburgh Pirates should trade Paul Skenes. Trading Skenes now would be a ridiculous sign to the fan base that they have no opportunity to compete anytime in the near future.