The Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes from the moment the defending champions began losing starters to injury.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are under pressure from many around the baseball industry to trade away their biggest asset in Skenes, who is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. The right-hander is sporting a 2.15 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 0.916 WHIP across 12 starts this season.
Former general manager Jim Bowden has called for the Pirates to consider dealing Skenes to the Dodgers, a team that has a depleted rotation and bullpen. While L.A. would receive a bonafide ace, the return package would be quite the cost for the Dodgers.
Bowden’s trade idea features the Dodgers sending top prospect Dalton Rushing, outfielder Andy Pages, left-hander Jackson Ferris, and right-hander Landon Knack.
“The Dodgers could offer the Pirates a long-term answer at catcher (Rushing) and a solution for left field (Pages), improving their lineup for this season and years to come,” Bowden writes. “Ferris, 21, isn’t ready for the majors yet, but has the stuff to become a top-of-the-rotation starter if his command and control improve. Knack would slot into the Pirates’ rotation right away, effectively replacing Skenes. On the other side of the trade, the Dodgers’ postseason rotation, if healthy, could be Skenes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. Yikes!”
It is no secret the Dodgers rotation would look quite unbeatable with Skenes at the forefront. But then again, L.A. looked invincible after an offseason that included the acquisitions of Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki.
Just over two months into the season, neither Snell or Sasaki is in the rotation. The two-time Cy Young winner made just two starts for the Dodgers before being placed on the injured list on April 6.
The idea of Skenes joining the Dodgers rotation is a good one, but realistically won’t pan out the way people expect it to. Adding star power to the roster certainly sends a statement, but health is paramount for every team — especially the Dodgers.
