Paul Skenes, only a year removed from his MLB debut, has found himself at the center of trade discussions, a reflection of the predicament faced by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite Skenes' impressive performance on the mound, the Pirates are languishing with a record of 16-33, placing them at the bottom of the National League Central. The current trajectory indicates that, barring an extraordinary turnaround, the team is unlikely to reach the playoffs again this season, as they last accomplished this feat in 2016 and have made playoff appearances only three times since 1992.

While the Pirates could theoretically attempt to secure Skenes with a contract extension, this seems impractical given the team's history of fiscal conservatism. ESPN's Jeff Passan noted on The Pat McAfee Show that Skenes, at just 22 years old, could be a candidate for a lucrative deal possibly worth $400 million. "There are teams that already are going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline this year," Passan elaborated, indicating that while a trade might not be imminent, the Pirates might benefit from moving Skenes while his value is at its peak. This raises the question of trade value, which is notably high for the young right-hander.

Skenes has established himself as a highly valuable asset, evidenced by his impressive 2.12 ERA – the lowest for a pitcher through his first 33 starts since 1912. He will not be arbitration-eligible until 2027 and will not reach free agency until after 2029, making him an attractive target. Considering the current landscape of starting pitching in MLB, where quality arms are in high demand, Skenes has been likened to a 'Last Unicorn'. As per estimates from Baseball Trade Values, Skenes possesses a surplus value of $94.8 million, almost double the value of other top prospects such as Garrett Crochet when he was traded for multiple prospects. Therefore, if the Pirates do decide to trade Skenes, they are likely to demand an elaborate return that reflects his immense value.