The MLB rumor mill is spinning fast in MLB. And this time, it’s not just about player movement, but a brewing feud behind the headlines. The rumors of a potential Paul Skenes trade from the Pirates have already sparked debate across the baseball world. But things escalated quickly when former Marlins president David Samson took a direct shot at one of the game’s most prominent insiders, Jeff Passan. Yes, you heard that correctly. What began as speculation has now turned personal, as Samson openly challenges Passan’s take on the matter.

Well, as rumors swirl around a potential trade involving pitching phenom Paul Skenes, ESPN insider Jeff Passan stirred the pot at The Pat McAfee Show earlier this week. He accused the Pirates of under-using their star and boldly claimed that “It’s not just Paul Skenes who deserves better, it’s Pittsburgh Pirates fans who deserve better. They deserve a system that allows teams to keep great players. In some cases, guys will stay with small-market teams. We’ve seen that … But what incentive does Paul Skenes have to extend with the Pirates when the Pirates haven’t shown the willingness from Bob Nutting all the way down, or the ability to bring in guys who are going to make this team better? The Pirates haven’t shown that they are worthy of a Paul Skenes extension at this point.”

The comment didn’t sit well with everyone, especially former Marlins president David Samson. “I am alleging that when Jeff Passan is carrying water for agenda-laden things, like talking about the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they don’t deserve to have Paul Skenes, that there is a level of carrying water that bases his opinion,” Samson took a direct dig at Passan.

So, what began as trade chatter has now morphed into a public war of words between two high-profile voices in the baseball world. The tension is real, the lines are drawn, and it looks like this clash is just getting started.

The Pirates’ Moneyball game with Skenes 

Well, Skenes has the potential to be a true No. 1 starter. He is a rare, ace-level talent with elite velocity, strike-throwing ability, and maturity beyond his years. So, for a franchise like Pittsburgh, which rarely signs high-end arms in free agency, developing a player like Skenes internally is a game-changer. It would be too costly to let him go.

Moreover, Skenes is under team control till 2028. That gives the Pirates a long runway to contend while paying him well below market value. In today’s MLB landscape, cost-controlled elite pitching is arguably the most valuable asset, especially for small-market teams. Hence, letting go of that kind of leverage would be short-sighted unless the return was completely overwhelming.

However, there’s only a narrow scenario in which a trade might make sense. Yes, if the Pirates determine they are still years away from contention and another team offers a franchise-altering package. For instance, if the Pirates get multiple top-30 MLB prospects and MLB-ready players. But in the real world, very few teams would give up that kind of return for even a talent like Skenes.

So, Paul Skenes might stay untouchable. The Pirates have struggled for years to find an ace. Now that they have one, they need to build around him, not move him for more uncertainty.