Twins Go All-In: 2 Potential Trade Packages for Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / Imagn Images

The Pirates sit at the bottom of the NL Central, and have already fired their manager this season. They are a long way from being back in contention. Meanwhile, Paul Skenes has become a must-watch pitcher for their club and helped to invigorate the fanbase, but the Pirates will be irrelevant during his tenure with the club. He is scheduled to reach free agency after the 2029 season, and each pitch he throws for the Pirates takes away some of his value. This is even more true when teams consider that even the most durable pitchers will inevitably have some impact on their careers due to injury. Pittsburgh doesn’t want to trade him away, but it might be the best thing for the club’s long-term growth.

So, why would the Twins want to make this trade? Minnesota already has one of baseball’s best starting rotations, with depth built in the high minors. However, the Twins’ winning window may slowly be closing, with aging stars like Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa in the middle of the lineup. If the Twins want to go all-in, the next two or three seasons are the club’s best opportunity to make an extended playoff run. It would take quite the package of prospects, but the Twins have multiple ways of acquiring Skenes. 

Trade Package 1: Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Connor Prielipp, Billy Amick
It seems likely for Jenkins, Minnesota’s top prospect, to be the starting point for any trade involving Skenes. He is considered one of baseball’s top prospects despite missing time during his first two professional seasons. The Twins hope he can return to the field in June, and that could give the Pirates time to evaluate the young outfielder as a potential cornerstone for their franchise. 

Culpepper is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the Twins organization. As last season’s first-round pick, he's posted a 160 wRC+ at High-A this season. The Athletic’s Keith Law recently updated his top-50 prospect list, and Culpepper slid in at No. 45. Prospects with rising stocks tend to be dealt with in July, and Culpepper fits this mold. 

On the pitching side, Prielipp has established himself as a top-100 prospect this season with his performance at Double-A. He’s one of the highest-upside arms in the Twins system, and could be a long-term rotational option for Pittsburgh. Like Culpepper, Amick is another player with rising stock, including a 167 wRC+ at High-A. Amick may never develop into a superstar, but he has the potential to be a regular big-leaguer, and that has significant value. 
Overall: Three top-100 prospects, including Jenkins, is the type of deal it will take for Skenes. 

Trade Package 2: Emmanuel Rodriguez, David Festa, Kyle DeBarge, Dasan Hill
The first trade package offers significant long-term upside, while the second package includes both immediate value for the Pirates and long-term building blocks. Rodriguez is on the cusp of the big leagues with a 120 wRC+ at Triple-A, including a bat that has been heating up in recent weeks with a .969 OPS in May. His unique skill set, including a patient approach, powerful swing, and defensive versatility, could make him the headliner for the Pirates. He isn’t as highly rated as Jenkins, but he is still considered one of baseball’s top prospects. 

Festa could immediately be added to the Pirates rotation. He has one more year of team control than Skenes does, and has demonstrated plenty of upside during his time at the major-league level. It’s important to note that Festa dealt with some shoulder soreness earlier in the season, so the Pirates would want to clear his medicals before trading for him. 

DeBarge has been one of the most exciting Twins prospects this season. The 33rd overall pick in last summer’s draft has posted a 133 wRC+ at High-A. He’s also shown the ability to play multiple infield and outfield positions, which can help a player find a role at the big-league level. The Twins selected Hill in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of high school in Texas. At Low-A, the 19-year-old has mowed through lineups with a 41.2 K% and held batters to a .121 BA. Hill is a long way from the majors but has some of the most significant upside in the system. 
Overall: Two near big-league-ready assets and two upside plays can make a deal work.

Minnesota’s front office has taken a cautious approach at most trade deadlines, so it seems unlikely for the Twins to mortgage the entire farm system on one starting pitcher. There is also no indication that the Pirates are interested in trading their star player. He has made it clear that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh and help the organization get back into contention. Still, it’s fun to dream of what a blockbuster trade could look like for the Twins and Pirates. 

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Which trade are the Pirates more likely to accept? Should the Twins go all-in at this trade deadline? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[bean5302]

Not even close. Not even remotely in the ballpark.

You want to get real?
Festa + Matthews + Jenkins + Keaschall + Prielipp

Something like that would be fair-ish from a value standpoint.

Skenes is +126 in BTV right now, and typically, you pay a little more of a premium when you're sending multiple players for a single great one.

Jenkins is probably overrated at +65
Festa, Matthews and Keaschall were each around +20 with Prielipp as a +5-10ish.

[Steve Lein]

I mean, if option 1 were to be enough to get him, there is no way option 2 is even close.

But the fact I'm saying an immediate yes to either of them, says they're not even in the ballpark.

That said, I'd trade pretty much anybody on the planet, and any combination of them, for Paul Skenes.

[Tibs]

Going to have to add in Brian Duensing to get it done

[Mike Sixel]

hahahahahahahahaha. I didn't even read it.

[NYCTK]

For starters, take a look at what the Nationals received for Juan Soto (and Josh Bell, but...come on): 

CJ Abrams #1 organization prospect according to MLB (#9 overall)

Robert Hassell III #2 (#37 overall)

MacKenzie Gore #4 (#86 overall)

James Wood #5 

Jarlin Susana #19 (#8 in fangraphs midseason) 

And then remember that was for two years of somewhat expensive control. And then remember Skenes is still not even in arbitration. So double it. 

So we can start with: 

Walker Jenkins

Emmanuel Rodridguez

Luke Keaschell

Kaelen Culpepper

Connor Prielipp 

Kyle DeBarge 

Billy Amick

and then let's say David Festa

[Jocko87]

Just for fun. 

[Patzky]

18 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Just for fun. 

It's not fun!

[farmerguychris]

I'm not a fan of trading prospects but I'd be open to it in fantasyland if they could pull it off.

In addition could we give them other things, perhaps that new hotel just outside left field as well?

 

[Brandon]

If we are trading for a real Twins need we should trade with a team that is really going nowhere and acquire Aaron Judge from the Yankees.  His bat will make a huge difference in our lineup as we work to outscore the teams our really good pitching staff is already keeping their side of the score low.  

[chpettit19]

There isn't a realistic deal to be made for Skenes. By any team. 

[tony&rodney]

Discussion of Paul Skenes and accompanying articles and rumors or suggestions for what Pittsburgh should do are a staple of every sports desk.

Skenes is pretty much a shut down pitcher with high value. The Twins don't necessarily need any pitching but any team could tempt the Pirates with an outrageous offer. The Twins could as well but you have a better chance of winning Powerball than Falvey parting with his prospects. Would anyone be interested in Skenes in a Twins uniform? Would Jenkins, Rodriguez, Culpepper, Amick, Raya, Soto, and Matthews or Festa be enough? The Pirates fans have a spectacular stadium with a near hopeless club and this is despite having some real stars like Oneill Cruz.

[Mark G]

Instead of selling the team, why not just trade the team for Skenes?  Or would he have to stay with the team we just traded for him.........🧐

Hey, it is just as realistic as the other 2 scenarios.......😠 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I get the attraction and the interesting thought exercise, but our pitching is definitely not the problem right now.  Acquiring another good pitcher means we still lose lots of 2-1 or 2-0 games.  Skenes is a huge talent, but I would argue that ERod and Jenkins are probably more valuable to this team than Skenes would be, unless he can pull an Ohtani and hit also.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

The only useful takeaway from this story is that the Twins have lots of assets in the system that could be used to acquire top line Major League talent.  If the Twins are within striking distance of a deep run in the playoffs at the trade deadline, they can make moves that can position them to take a shot at the World Series.  Short of that, it makes no sense to trade assets at all, even for Paul Skenes. 

Right now, Twins would need to catch Tigers and be one of the top 2 seeds in the AL at the deadline to pull the trigger on a major trade.  

[thelanges5]

Need more bats to complement the good pitching we already have. An offense that consistently ranks 15th (currently 23rd) or higher would give us more wins. 
 

26-3 when scoring 4 or more runs. Thats the formula. 

[Doctor Gast]

PIT won't trade Skenes, MN are prospect huggers so that isn't an option. & If PIT is willing, it'd take more.

[DJL44]

21 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Need more bats to complement the good pitching we already have. An offense that consistently ranks 15th (currently 23rd) or higher would give us more wins. 
 

26-3 when scoring 4 or more runs. Thats the formula. 

Ryan O'Hearn

 

[Blyleven2011]

 This is a ridiculous idea to go after a pitcher and all in , the twins have a darn good rotation  and the problem isn't pitching ...

It's quite obvious it is offense we need to go all in for if we are considered a contender for the division title , if we are going in as a playoff wild card don't mortgage the farm  ...

Twins are not a consistent offensive team , offense doesn't hit and score enough runs ,  the twins can hit homeruns but they want that every at bat  ,,, 

THE TWINS ARE NOT A HOMERUN HITTING TEAM ( do the twins have a player that can hit 35 to 40 homeruns , NO )  , concentrate on singles and doubles and the homeruns will come , IF the players want to see better pitches to hit , they need to  hit to all fields , if they hit to all the fields , opposing pitchers will have a more difficult time trying to get them out and our batters will see better pitches , better pitches to see equals singles , doubles and occasionally a homerun ... 

Would be nice to have a manager that , bunts,  steals , hit and run to stay out of the to many double plays we hit into , hit behind the runner to position them better into scoring position  , if it's a right handed batter that means hitting to the opposite field  ...

The twins need practice and more practice on selecting a ball to hit , they are always guessing wrong , strike three looking proves my theory ...

No need to go all in on a pitcher at deadline  , it's offensive  that can play defensive too ...

[mnfireman]

Is those one of those articles where the author is attempting humor, because it's as funny, if not funnier, as any of those attempts.... 

[harmony55]

Are Minnesota fans prepared for another Herschel Walker trade?

[dxpavelka]

Why would a team with three starting pitchers among the top twenty in the AL and a whole bunch of questionable bats trade two or three of their best hitting prospects for another SP?

 

[Doc Lenz]

He’d get here and a week later need Tommy John.

[old nurse]

Clickbait. It worked. 

[Major League Ready]

I will take "Things with absolutely no chance of happening" for $1,000 Alex.

[Otaknam]

I doubt Pittsburgh would consider trading Skenes this year. He may be the best starter in baseball. That said, I would hate to lose Jenkins in a trade package, but Pittsburgh would probably insist on him in any trade.

[Squirrel]

20 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

hahahahahahahahaha. I didn't even read it.

I know. Just ridiculous

[twinstalker]

22 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Not even close. Not even remotely in the ballpark.

You want to get real?
Festa + Matthews + Jenkins + Keaschall + Prielipp

Something like that would be fair-ish from a value standpoint.

Skenes is +126 in BTV right now, and typically, you pay a little more of a premium when you're sending multiple players for a single great one.

Jenkins is probably overrated at +65
Festa, Matthews and Keaschall were each around +20 with Prielipp as a +5-10ish.

This is probably right, though it is the Pirates.  We could probably sneak Lewis in there instead of Keaschall.

[TheLeviathan]

Holy crap what a stupid article.  

[LambchoP]

Twins need offense more than they need more pitching. If we're going to trade a high level prospect or two, it should be for a big bat.