May 20, 2026 — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that right‑handed pitcher Paul Skenes is now their most untouchable trade chip, according to a recent Bleacher Report analysis. The designation comes as Skenes continues to dominate with a 1.35 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP over 60 innings this season, numbers that have not only vaulted him to the top of the league’s ace leaderboard but have also forced every general manager with a competitive window to reconsider their own rotation construction.
At 25, Skenes carries five years of club control after this campaign, a timeline that aligns perfectly with Pittsburgh’s rebuild plan that was formally articulated by GM Derek Shelton in the off‑season press conference of November 2024. The front office brass sees his value not just in wins but in the leverage he provides for any future roster moves, a point Shelton underscored when he said, “When you have a pitcher who can swing a 1.35 ERA at age 25 and still be under team control for half a decade, you have a currency that no cash‑first deal can match.”
Recent History of the Pirates’ Pitching Staff
The Pirates have struggled to find consistent starters since 2022, cycling through veterans such as Jameson Taillon and unproven youngsters like Jared Jones. Their last winning season came in 2021, when a youthful rotation featuring Nick Martinez and Mitch Keller posted a collective 3.92 ERA. By contrast, the 2026 staff has posted a collective ERA of 4.68, a figure that sits in the bottom third of the National League and has contributed to the club’s .420 winning percentage through the first 45 games.
In the past three seasons, Pittsburgh has experimented with a hybrid “open‑rotation” model, giving prospects 15‑day stints to see if they can handle the jump from Triple‑A Indianapolis. The approach yielded mixed results: a brief spark from rookie left‑hander Drew Anderson was offset by the regression of former top prospect Jared Jones, who posted an 8.12 ERA in 2025. Skenes’ emergence therefore offers a rare anchor around which the club can construct a competitive staff, and his performance has already lowered the team’s projected runs allowed per game from 4.9 to 4.2, according to Baseball‑Reference’s 2026 predictive model.
What Makes Paul Skenes Untouchable?
According to Bleacher Report, Skenes mirrors the AL version of a top prospect with elite spin rates and a low BABIP, translating to sustained success on the mound. His 1.35 ERA and 0.78 WHIP signal elite command, while his five‑year control window adds significant trade value. The numbers suggest that any team willing to part with a proven starter would still find the cost prohibitive.
Beyond the surface metrics, advanced analytics reveal why Skenes is a generational talent. His average fastball velocity sits at 95.2 mph, but the true differentiator is his 2,800 RPM spin rate, placing him in the top 5 % of active starters. The spin rate, coupled with a vertical jump of 31 inches, generates a launch angle that induces a 42 % swing‑and‑miss rate on fastballs—well above the league average of 28 %.
His secondary arsenal—an 86‑mph slider with a 91‑degree horizontal break and a changeup that drops 8 inches—has been particularly lethal against right‑handed hitters, who slash .190/.250/.310 against him this season. Moreover, his BABIP of .210 over 60 innings suggests that luck is not a factor; he is truly controlling outcomes.
His freshman season at Texas A&M earned him Freshman All‑American honors, hinting at long‑term dominance. In his sophomore year he was named All‑SEC First Team and posted a 2.55 ERA against a schedule that featured future MLB talent such as Austin Riley and Michael Harris II. The consistency of his college production—combined with a 2019 perfect‑game performance in the Cape Cod League—has cemented his reputation as a player who translates every level of competition into elite results.
Editorial note: In an era where cash‑first deals dominate, a pitcher with Skenes’ profile becomes a rare, non‑negotiable asset, much like a franchise‑cornerstone shortstop. The only comparable modern example is Gerrit Cole’s 2018 pre‑arbitration extension, which forced the Yankees to pay a premium that reshaped the AL East power balance.
Pirates Front Office Strategy
Pittsburgh’s front office has already taken steps to protect Skenes. His pre‑arbitration contract was extended through the 2027 season, locking in a salary of $1.2 million per year. By securing his deal early, the club ensured that the cost of acquiring him later would be far higher, a move that reflects a long‑term view of roster construction. The extension also includes a club option for 2028 at $7.5 million, a figure that is still below market value for a pitcher of his caliber according to Spotrac’s 2026 salary projections.
General Manager Derek Shelton, who previously orchestrated the 2023 trade that sent Nick Castellanos to the Cubs for a package of prospects, has emphasized that Skenes is the centerpiece of a “dual‑lever” strategy: (1) use his value to acquire multiple high‑upside prospects if the window narrows, and (2) build a rotation around him to push the Pirates into contention by 2028. Shelton’s staff, led by pitching coordinator Brandon Hyde, has already begun a “spin‑rate amplification” program in Indianapolis, using weighted‑ball training to maintain Skenes’ spin velocity while limiting arm‑stress.
The front office brass believes that keeping Skenes gives the Pirates a bargaining chip that can be flipped for multiple high‑upside prospects or a cost‑controlled veteran, should the market ever shift. In a recent interview with The Athletic, Pirates President Ben Cherington said, “We are not looking to sell a piece of the future unless the return is a clear upgrade across the board. Paul is that piece.”
Key Developments
- Skenes entered the majors as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, a distinction that still fuels his market perception. His draft pedigree is underscored by a pre‑draft scouting report that rated his “projectability” at 95 / 100.
- His spin rate averages 2,800 RPM, placing him in the top 5 % of active starters. This metric, combined with a first‑pitch strike percentage of 71 %, forces hitters into early‑count battles where his secondary pitches excel.
- The Pirates have extended his pre‑arbitration contract through the 2027 season, locking in salary at $1.2 million per year. The contract also contains a 2028 club option and a 10 % annual raise clause that protects the club against inflationary market spikes.
- Advanced Statcast data show that his expected ERA (xERA) is 1.09, indicating that his performance is sustainable even if peripheral metrics regress slightly.
- He posted a strikeout‑to‑walk ratio of 7.2 (56 K/8 BB) over 60 innings, a figure that ranks third among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched this season.
Impact and What’s Next for Pittsburgh
With Skenes cemented as an untouchable chip, the Pirates can leverage his value to acquire multiple high‑upside prospects or a cost‑controlled veteran. Analysts caution, however, that overvaluing a single arm could hinder broader roster flexibility. The club’s next move will likely involve pairing Skenes with a complementary back‑end starter to solidify a rotation that can contend for a playoff spot by 2028.
One plausible scenario is a trade package that sends Skenes and a controllable reliever to a contender in exchange for a top‑tier shortstop prospect (e.g., the Twins’ top‑ranked SS) and a high‑ceilings left‑handed pitcher from the Dodgers’ farm system. Such a haul would address Pittsburgh’s perennial defensive deficiencies while preserving a left‑handed arm for the rotation’s second spot.
Alternatively, if the front office decides to double‑down on the Skenes‑centric model, they could invest in a veteran “floor‑raiser” like Dallas Keuchel, whose 2025 contract was slashed to $8 million, to provide innings stability while Skenes continues his ascent. The combination of a sub‑2.00 ERA ace with a veteran who can eat 180 innings would push the Pirates’ projected WAR for the 2027 season above 45, a threshold historically associated with postseason qualification in the NL Central.
Regardless of the path chosen, the broader league context underscores the rarity of Skenes’ situation. Since the 2015 collective bargaining agreement, only three pitchers—Gerrit Cole (2018), Walker Buehler (2022), and Luis Castillo (2025)—have been designated as “untouchable” by prominent analysts, and each subsequently anchored a franchise that won a division title within three seasons. If Pittsburgh can replicate that trajectory, the 2026 designation may be remembered as the turning point that shifted the Pirates from perpetual rebuilders to perennial contenders.
What is Paul Skenes’ contract structure?
Skenes’ deal was extended before arbitration, guaranteeing $1.2 million annually through 2027, after which he will enter arbitration with a salary set by the league. The contract also contains a 2028 club option at $7.5 million and a 10 % annual raise clause.
How does Skenes’ spin rate compare league‑wide?
At 2,800 RPM, his spin rate ranks in the top five percent of active MLB starters, a metric linked to higher swing‑and‑miss potential and lower BABIP.
What college accolades did Skenes earn?
While at Texas A&M, Skenes was named Freshman All‑American, later earned All‑SEC First Team honors, and threw a perfect game in the 2019 Cape Cod League, underscoring his pedigree before turning pro.