Pirates Must Build Now Around Ace Paul Skenes to Contend

Pirates at a Crossroads: Time to Build Around Their Ace

The Pittsburgh Pirates might not have lit up the standings in 2025, but they’ve got a gem that could shine bright enough to guide them forward. Paul Skenes — the flame-throwing righty with the stuff of legends — is the kind of ace you build a contender around. But are the Pirates ready to get serious and actually do it?

Coming off another under-.500 season, Pirates fans are getting restless, especially watching division rivals like the Reds leap ahead. With young talent on the rise and financial flexibility, Pittsburgh has a golden window to get things right. But time is ticking, and if they don’t act fast, they might end up watching Skenes pitch in pinstripes or Dodger blue someday.

Pitching Depth and a Rising Star

Let’s start with the good news: the Pirates have one of the few true aces in baseball. Paul Skenes was electric last season, blowing hitters away and giving Pittsburgh a fighting chance every fifth day. With only a handful of pitchers in MLB who can dominate like him, the Pirates have a rare asset. But one ace doesn’t make a playoff team — he needs support.

Behind Skenes, there’s promise. Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco are two prospects who could bolster the rotation soon. The Pirates also made a few moves to add depth, like trading Johan Oviedo to Boston and bringing in Joe’s 10 Cent, a slugger who hit bombs in limited time with the Red Sox. He’s a wild card for the outfield but could bring some much-needed pop if he sticks.

Skenes gives this team a puncher’s chance every time he takes the mound. But the Pirates can’t afford to waste his prime years by surrounding him with mediocrity. If they’re serious about competing in the Central — or even grabbing a Wild Card spot — then internal pitching growth has to be matched by major league-ready bats.

Outfield Shuffle and Offensive Needs

The Pirates’ offense had more holes than a backyard whiffle ball game. O’Neil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds did their best to carry the load, but even they didn’t perform up to expectations. Reynolds, in particular, played through injuries when he should have been resting, and it showed. Meanwhile, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Jack Suwinski were largely disappointing, and the trade of Ke’Bryan Hayes, while controversial, might have been addition by subtraction given his bat never matched his glove.

One idea floating around is shifting Reynolds to designated hitter, which could help keep him healthy and productive. That would open the door for someone like Joe’s 10 Cent to claim an outfield spot — if he proves his power isn’t just a Fenway fluke. But the Pirates need more than just hopefuls. They need established major leaguers who can anchor the lineup.

Enter Kyle Schwarber. If the Pirates want to make a splash, he’s the kind of slugger who could transform the middle of their order. They have money to spend — a realistic payroll target of around $95 million — and bringing in a left-handed bat like Schwarber would be a signal that Pittsburgh is finally ready to wake up and compete.

Time to Spend and Surround Skenes

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about building for 2030. The Pirates have a two-year window to go all-in while Skenes is still affordable and under team control. If they don’t show real progress, the whispers about trading him to a contender will only get louder. That’s the harsh reality of small-market baseball.

The Pirates’ front office has the green light to spend — and the fanbase is desperate for them to do it. They’ve got a loyal crowd that’s stuck with the team through thick and (mostly) thin. Now, it’s time to reward that loyalty with a legitimate shot at October baseball.

That means more than just adding Schwarber. It means bringing in a veteran catcher to guide Henry Davis, who still needs seasoning behind the plate. It means finding a real third baseman to stabilize the infield after Hayes’ departure. And it means locking down a left fielder who can hit his weight and then some.

The division is wide open. The Reds took a big step forward in 2025, grabbing a playoff spot and proving that smart trades and pitching depth can go a long way. The Pirates have the chance to do the same — if they stop waiting for the perfect moment and start making bold moves now.

Takeaways

• Paul Skenes is a top-tier ace, and the Pirates must build around him now — not later.
• The team needs to invest in offense, especially outfielders and a power bat like Kyle Schwarber.
• Pitching prospects like Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco offer hope, but established talent is needed.
• Moving Bryan Reynolds to DH could help his health and extend his productivity.
• With a realistic payroll bump to $95 million, the Pirates have the resources to contend in the NL Central.

In short: the Pirates are standing at the edge of a real opportunity. They’ve got the ace. They’ve got the prospects. They’ve even got the cash. Now all that’s left is to make the leap. Otherwise, they’ll be watching Skenes dominate somewhere else while wondering what could’ve been. Don’t blink, Pittsburgh — it’s time to play ball for real.