Baseball’s luxury powerhouse is staring down a harsh reality: all the money in the world can’t buy a healthy pitching staff. The Los Angeles Dodgers, battered by injuries and bloated with expectations, now find themselves eyeing Paul Skenes — the Pirates’ golden arm — like a desperate gambler chasing one last jackpot. But prying him loose? That’ll cost a king’s ransom, and then some.
The Pirates have one of the best pitchers, and they are not going to let go of Skenes anytime soon. But there are some instances where they will let him go, and the Dodgers are one such instance. People may think they have one of the best teams, but with the recent show, they might not need Skenes now, but soon enough. And the conditions for his departure are set by the Pirates.
In a recent article written by MLB insider Jim Bowden, he talked about teams that could make the Pirates look at Skenes as a trade option, even after their persistent statements about not letting him go. With the Dodgers, the trade options are big. He wrote, “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.”
But with the team the Dodgers have, they could afford this trade. They will be getting one of the pitching talents in baseball, and they will be giving away Andy Pages and Dalton Rushing, along with two more pitchers. If this trade literally panned out, the Dodgers will quite literally become the Thanos of baseball.
With the addition of Skenes, they will have Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow. With a 2.10 ERA over 34 starts, Skenes offers instant stability to LA’s shaky rotation. As Dodgers’ arms keep dropping, his 100+ mph fastball could plug a growing billion-dollar hole. He’s 23, durable, and dirt-cheap (for the Dodgers) — exactly what a wounded $300 million pitching staff forgot to budget for.
In other words, if baseball had an Infinity Gauntlet, the Dodgers are one Skenes away from snapping the league into submission. The Pirates might be reluctant gatekeepers, but every dynasty demands a sacrifice. And if L.A. is serious about October dominance, they know exactly what it’ll take. Call it robbery, call it strategy — just don’t call it cheap.
Chicago Cubs also ready to get their hands dirty in Paul Skenes’ mix-up
If Skenes is on the table, the Chicago Cubs will also want a piece of him. While some teams tiptoe around blockbuster deals, the Cubs are eyeing the chaos and thinking, “Why not us?” In a league where pitching reigns supreme and prospects are worshiped like baseball’s golden calves, the Cubs are reportedly ready to throw their chips on the table.
To pry Skenes from Pittsburgh, the Cubs would have to bleed blue and prospects. Cade Horton headlines the proposed haul, a top-tier arm with future ace potential. Alongside him: Matt Shaw, Kevin Alcántara, and 17-year-old shortstop Juan Tomas. That’s not a trade package; that’s a small farm system. It’s a steep price, no doubt, but Skenes isn’t just any arm—he’s a future rotation kingpin. He brings velocity, command, and postseason swagger. Dropping him into Wrigley’s rotation would instantly patch leaks and silence late-inning panic. He’s the kind of pitcher who makes October feel inevitable.
With Skenes, the Cubs don’t just add an ace—they get a statement piece. He turns a solid rotation into a feared one. Pair him with Steele, and you’ve got thunder and lightning. Suddenly, the North Side doesn’t just dream of the playoffs—it expects them.
And if thunder and lightning roll into Wrigley, the rest of the NL better pack umbrellas. Trading for Skenes would be bold, brash—and very Cubs 2025. It’s the kind of move that shifts power, not just MLB standings. Prospects are nice, but parades are better. And nothing says “October baseball” like betting big and watching it roar.
The post Dodgers Told to Sacrifice King’s Ransom to Bring Paul Skenes Back to LA Amid Injury Woes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
