BS Meter on Paul Skenes, Luis Robert Jr. and Latest MLB Trade Rumors
MLB trade rumor season doesn't really heat up until the calendar flips to June, but as Memorial Day approaches, we are beginning to get an idea of what some of the main storylines will be in advance of July 31.
With that in mind, we've created a BS Meter with four settings—non-existent, low, medium and high.
The goal of the BS Meter isn't to question the credibility of any of the reporters cited, but rather to give fans an idea of how much stock they should put into what we've deemed to be credible insight actually leading to a move.
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David Robertson Returning to the Phillies?
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The Rumor: MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported the Phillies "reached out" to David Robertson before José Alvarado’s 80-game performance-enhancing drug suspension became public. Feinsand added that "no serious talks took place."
BS Meter: Low
There's little questioning the legitimacy of this report. Frankly, even before losing Alvarado, the Phillies probably needed some bullpen reinforcements. Now that they have lost their top bullpen arm, it makes sense that they reached out to Robertson, who represents himself.
With that said, we don't have any reason to think that a deal will be reached. Beyond Feinsand noting that "no serious talks took place," it is a bit of a red flag that Robertson is still a free agent this far into the season considering he had a 3.00 ERA and 2.65 FIP in 68 games for the Texas Rangers last year.
Granted, Robertson is 40 years old, but given how effective he was last year, he should be on a team by now. You're left to wonder, then, why he isn't. Does he want too much in terms of years/dollars? Is he contemplating whether he wants to continue his career?
The guess here is that Robertson, a 16-year MLB vet, will eventually pitch this season. But he doesn't seem to be in any sort of rush. Even once he signs, it will likely take him around a month to be ready for MLB action. Whether that will be for a third stint with the Phillies or with another club also remains to be seen.
Will the Rockies Finally Trade Ryan McMahon?
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The rumor: Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote last weekend that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are "closely monitoring" Ryan McMahon in case the Colorado Rockies deal him.
BS Meter: High
The organizational mindset for the Rockies, probably to their detriment, has been not to be major sellers during the season. Even if they are performing at a historically bad level, it's fair to wonder if owner Dick Monfort and general manager Bill Schmidt will change course this summer.
If the Rockies are willing to trade McMahon this summer, it's unclear how motivated teams with a need at third base will be. The former All-Star is hitting .211 with a .706 OPS. He continues to grade out well at the hot corner defensively, but how eager will teams be to trade for McMahon—who will earn $32 million between 2026 and 2027—given how he looks at the plate while playing his home games at Coors Field?
The Rockies could probably facilitate a trade involving McMahon if they eat some money and/or take a lesser prospect return, but having to do either might just convince them to hold onto one of the few big names on their roster.
Also, the Dodgers don't really make sense as a landing spot for McMahon, unless they believe that Max Muncy won't rebound from what's been a slow start at the plate.
Would the Pirates Really Trade Paul Skenes?
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The Rumor: Jon Heyman said in the latest B/R stream, "No way, no how, no chance" when discussing the possibility of the Pittsburgh Pirates trading Paul Skenes this summer.
BS Meter: Non-existent
Fans of contending teams seem to have tried to will this narrative into existence the past few weeks, but it's misguided, at best.
Paul Skenes is 22 years old and won't even become arbitration-eligible until the 2027 season. He can't become a free agent until after the 2029 campaign.
For as disastrous as the season has been in Pittsburgh, the idea that the Pirates would trade Skenes this early is preposterous. "Generational talent" is a term that's used far too frequently in sports discourse, but considering Skenes has a 2.12 ERA to show for his first 33 MLB starts, he's deserving of that label.
This is the type of player the Pirates should be trying to build around and win with for at least the next few seasons.
Will Pittsburgh trade Skenes as he nears free agency, given owner Bob Nutting's reluctance to spend? Probably. But right now, you've scratched off a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket. Enjoy the windfall.
Red Sox a Fit for Rhys Hoskins?
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The Rumor: Bob Nightengale of USA Today opined last weekend that Rhys Hoskins "could be the perfect fit" for the Boston Red Sox if the Milwaukee Brewers ultimately sell.
BS Meter: Low
This wasn't a report but rather Nightengale's opinion. Still, it's very easy to imagine a pull hitter with power like Hoskins thriving at Fenway Park.
The question is whether the Brewers will be in a position to wave the white flag this summer. They've disappointed so far, but at 24-26 are still within striking distance of the Chicago Cubs.
With that said, the Brewers showed with the trade of Josh Hader during the 2022 season that they aren't necessarily afraid to move veterans they think are about to depart in free agency, even if the current iteration of the team is in contention.
Hoskins was underwhelming in 2023, his first year back after a torn left ACL caused him to miss his contract year. He's rebounded in a major way to this point with a .902 OPS. If things continue this way, the Scott Boras client is certain to decline his half of an $18 million mutual option for 2026, triggering a $4 million buyout.
The Brewers may feel inclined to trade Hoskins this summer, getting some prospect return and potentially shedding the commitment to paying the buyout next year. Hoskins is one of the most well-respected clubhouse figures in baseball, and will likely draw interest from the Red Sox and other teams in need of more 1B/DH production.
It's Not Certain Luis Robert Jr. Will Be Traded
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The Rumor: In his latest stream in the B/R app, Jon Heyman said "Luis Robert Jr. is not going to be traded if he's hitting under .200, at least not for anything good."
BS Meter: Non-existent
It's hard to disagree with this statement in any way.
In the not-so-distant past, Luis Robert Jr.'s contract seemed team-friendly. He's making $15 million this season, and his contract contains $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027.
But since hitting .264 with 38 home runs and an .857 OPS in 2023, Robert is batting just .210 with 19 home runs and a .630 OPS. There's also a lengthy injury history.
Granted, he has stolen 17 bases this season and plays a position with so few difference-making options. But teams likely would just view him as a rental, more likely to decline his $20 million club option for 2026 and take the $2 million buyout. That's not the type of player teams would give up one of their top-five prospects for, even if they were interested in taking a flier on the 27-year-old.
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