Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz Reportedly Only Untouchable Players in Pirates' Trade Talks

Starting pitcher Paul Skenes and center fielder Oneil Cruz are the only two players the Pittsburgh Pirates consider off limits in trades, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Nightengale reported Sunday that "the Pirates continue to listen to offers for everyone on the team" with the exception of Skenes and Cruz.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported earlier this week the team was at least willing to entertain conversations about Cruz but that a trade was "unlikely."

Pittsburgh is last in the National League Central at 43-62, so there's no realistic path to upgrading the roster enough ahead of the trade deadline to become a contender.

Still, The Athletic's Stephen J. Nesbitt suggested this could be a "defining week" for general manager Ben Cherington.

"If the sixth-year GM is on the hot seat, as many in the industry believe, it could be his last chance to chart a course toward contention in 2026 that persuades [team owner Bob] Nutting to give him another year," Nesbitt reported.

From a trade perspective, Skenes is one of MLB's most valuable players. A 23-year-old ace who's under team control through 2029 would yield a bounty of top prospects and perhaps some immediate reinforcements for the Pirates.

With the fan base already exasperated with ownership, though, Feinsand cited two executives who said a Skenes trade could spark a "revolt" in the Steel City.

One executive from an American League team also questioned the ultimate purpose behind dealing the right-hander.

"Even if you're 100 percent rational about this, if you move him, aren't you conceding that you’re not going to contend until 2030?" the exec told Feinsand. "I'm sure you could get a haul, but is that haul going to help more than he would?"

For as much as the Washington Nationals got back for Juan Soto, that has yet to translate into wins for the team. A similar fate could befall the Pirates if they cashed in on Skenes.

Cruz has yet to establish himself as the same kind of cornerstone for Pittsburgh's future like Skenes has.

The 26-year-old is batting just .217 with a .423 slugging percentage and a 105 OPS+, per Baseball Reference. The Home Run Derby was a showcase of his raw ability, but fans are still waiting for him to turn the proverbial corner.

When Cruz is arbitration-eligible for three more seasons, the Pirates might as well hold onto him rather than accepting an offer that's presumably 50 cents on the dollar.

Cherington will undoubtedly be busy over the next few days. However, don't expect a major blockbuster in Pittsburgh between now and Thursday.