Pirates' Skenes dismisses trade rumors: 'I'm not going anywhere'

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes isn't paying attention to trade rumors that have grown louder during the team's recent struggles.

"It doesn't make any difference with the (trade) talks," Skenes told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette following the Bucs' 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. "I'm not going anywhere, I don't think. I have to figure out how to continue to improve this place."

He added: "There's no substance to just all that talk that you hear on social media and news outlets and stuff like that," Skenes said, according to the Associated Press.

The Pirates seem headed toward yet another losing campaign. Although they're 6-8 since new manager Don Kelly took over for the fired Derek Shelton earlier this month, they're already 13 1/2 games out of first place in the NL Central. Pittsburgh's 18-34 record places second worst in the NL, ahead of only the lowly Colorado Rockies.

Skenes has nothing to do with any of that. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year is authoring a sensational sophomore season, owning a 2.36 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 70 strikeouts over 11 starts. Still, he's received zero support, owning a 3-5 record that includes a complete-game loss; the Pirates are 4-7 in games he's started.

The entire situation has led to some questioning whether Pittsburgh should look to trade Skenes this summer for what would be a gigantic return. General manager Ben Cherington shot down any notion of such a move this week, saying that a Skenes trade is "not at all part of the conversation."

Skenes won't be in control of his future until after the 2029 season, when he reaches free agency. Sill, the 22-year-old doesn't expect to be moved any time soon and seems eager to bring winning baseball back to the Steel City.

"When I got drafted, I came in with the intention of winning a World Series here. That hasn't changed," Skenes said. "I don't think my days here are numbered by any means."