GM: Respect calls, but Pirates not trading Skenes

LAS VEGAS — The Pittsburgh Pirates will not trade Paul Skenes this offseason, general manager Ben Cherington reiterated Tuesday, quashing any simmering speculation about the ace right-hander possibly being moved and altering Major League Baseball’s landscape.

Cherington said he has regularly received inquiries from clubs regarding Skenes’ availability and said the conversations are always short.

«The question gets asked, and it’s always respectful,» Cherington said at the MLB general managers meetings. «Teams have to ask the question. I suspect that won’t end. But the answer’s been consistent.»

Mitch Keller and heralded prospect Bubba Chandler.

«We believe our pitching is a strength,» Cherington said. «Doesn’t mean we wouldn’t want to add more pitching. We will certainly be opportunistic on the pitching side. There are some things that we’d like to do on the pitching side, but run scoring was the thing that got in our way more than anything. And we’ve got to add to that.»