Insider: Yankees Offered Huge Haul for Skenes Last Season

Paul Skenes got beat up in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season opener yesterday, allowing 5 runs while only last 2/3 of an inning against the New York Mets, but he is still considered one of the top pitchers in the world. Accoridng to a report from The New York Post, the New York Yankees were very interested in acquiring Skenes last season, but regardless of what they offered, the Pirates weren’t listening.

According to reporter/insider Jon Heyman, the Pirates refused to even listen to an offer for their ace. The offer for Skenes was reportedly huge. The Yankees, according to Heyman, were willing to give up 4 of their top prospects. While the exact names aren’t certain, it likely included “some combination of Cam Schlittler . . . George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones and Carlos Lagrange, or possibly others,” per Heyman.

That haul would have been massive for the Pirates, who have struggled to contend for several years.  Schlitter, Lombard, Jones and Lagrange are not just the top prospects in the Yankees’ farm system, they are among the best young players in the game today.

Despite the Pirates’ refusal to listen to trade offers for Skenes at this time, the Yankees are not giving up on the possibility, according to Heyman. “Expect the Yankees to circle back if they ever detect even a glimmer of an opening,” Heyman wrote.