Yankees End Anthony Volpe Era in Risky Paul Skenes Trade Idea
Baseball fans entered the summer of Paul Skenes trade ideas long before last Friday's solstice.
Unfortunately for those wanting to see Skenes escape Pittsburgh, the Pirates have been insistent they won't trade their superstar ace. Never mind that Skenes leads the majors in ERA (1.85) and pitching bWAR (4.3) through 16 starts on a Pirates team facing their seventh straight losing season.
Advertisement
Everyone has a Skenes trade pitch, and here's another for discussion. What if the New York Yankees called the Pirates inquiring about Skenes in exchange for several players, including shortstop Anthony Volpe?
The thought of Pittsburgh being intrigued by Volpe doesn't sound so farfetched. While Yankees fans have lost their patience with the inconsistent Volpe, he's nonetheless a 24-year-old shortstop on pace for a third consecutive 3-bWAR season.
Volpe has already hit nine homers and 20 doubles for the AL East-leading Yankees, although his defense and lack of clutch hitting remain concerning. He's a speedy shortstop with pop in his bat—and, most importantly, he's under team control through 2029.
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul SkenesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images; Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Skenes makes perfect sense for a Yankees team needing another impactful starting pitcher. There wouldn't be many better options than Skenes if the league held a fantasy draft. Just imagine him being available via trade.
Advertisement
The Yankees would likely need to give up at least two top-10 prospects; for the sake of conversation, we'll use outfielder Spencer Jones and starting pitcher Bryce Cunningham. Another starting pitching prospect, Chase Hampton, has a high ceiling but underwent Tommy John surgery in February.
Luckily for Pirates fans, this theoretical trade isn't one we expect to see happen. The Pirates appear committed to keeping Skenes around indefinitely, even if a title contender comes calling, willing to deplete their entire farm system.
However, as the Rafael Devers trade proved, teams are sometimes willing to change plans. Maybe a package centered around Volpe and Jones would be enough to sway the Pirates into making Skenes a Yankee ... but probably not.
Related: Yankees Urged to Make Dangerous Change After Reds Loss
Related: Yankees Legend Takes Veiled Swipe at Aaron Judge in Backhanded Compliment
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard Makes NBA History After Being Waived by Bucks
Damian Lillard Makes NBA History After Being Waived by Bucks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. "Dame Time" has ended in Milwaukee. The Bucks surprised the NBA world on Tuesday by signing former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract. That decision could have significant ramifications in the Eastern Conference next season, amid the Pacers' refusal to enter the luxury tax to keep Turner after star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during the NBA Finals. Advertisement But the Bucks did not stop at Turner. In a corresponding move, Milwaukee decided to waive guard Damian Lillard, recovering from his own Achilles tear. The decision to waive Lillard brings down the curtain on a tumultuous two-year stint in Milwaukee for the nine-time All-Star. Lillard and the Bucks did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs together, and they are now parting ways, seeing as Lillard is likely to miss all of next season due to his injury. To clear the salary cap space needed to sign Turner, the Bucks are utilizing a key provision in the collective bargaining agreement. Milwaukee is waiving Lillard and "stretching" Lillard's remaining $112.6 million salary across the next five NBA seasons. This means Lillard's salary will incur a cap hit of $22,516,603 in each season through 2029/30, when Lillard will be 39 years old. Advertisement According to Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac, it is the largest "waive and stretch" salary decision in NBA history. As ESPN's Bobby Marks pointed out on X, the cost incurred is nearly triple that of Nicolas Batum's owed salary when the Charlotte Hornets waived and stretched him as part of a deal to sign Gordon Hayward in 2020. The Bucks believe that adding Turner in a bid to return to championship contention is worth incurring the enormous dead money charges and, reportedly, even the wrath of star player Giannis Antetokounmpo. Related: Damian Lillard Receives Unfortunate News on Tuesday After Wild Bucks Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Springer has career-high 7 RBIs, hits 9th slam to lead Blue Jays over Yankees
TORONTO (AP) — George Springer had a career-high seven RBIs, including his ninth grand slam, and the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated Canada Day by beating the Yankees 12-5 on Tuesday and closing within one game of AL East-leading New York. Andrés Giménez had a go-ahead, three-run homer for the Blue Jays, who overcame a 2-0 deficit against Max Fried. After the Yankees tied the score 4-4 in the seventh, Toronto broke open the game in the bottom half against a reeling Yankees bullpen. Advertisement Springer went 3 for 4, starting the comeback with a solo homer in the fourth against Fried and boosting the lead to 9-5 with the slam off Luke Weaver after Ernie Clement's go-ahead single off shortstop Anthony Volpe's glove. Springer has 13 homers this season and his second of the day was his 100th for the Blue Jays. Toronto won the first two games of the four-game series and closed within one game of the Yankees for the first time since before play on April 20. MARLINS 2, TWINS 0 MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Stowers homered and Miami stretched their winning streak to eight, one shy of the club record set in 2008, with a win over Minnesota. Advertisement Edward Cabrera (3-2) struck out six and only allowed two hits and one walk in seven innings, the longest start of the season by a Marlins pitcher. He struck out Byron Buxton to end the third for his 400th career strikeout, becoming the third-fastest to reach the mark in franchise history. Stowers gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the second inning with his 14th home run of the season. He initially took first base after appearing to get hit by a pitch. But Minnesota challenged and the call was overturned. Anthony Bender pitched a perfect eighth and Ronny Henriquez struck out back-to-back batters to begin the ninth to help secure his fourth save. PIRATES 1, CARDINALS 0 Advertisement PITTSBURGH (AP) — Catcher Henry Davis drove in the game's only run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and preserved the lead with a tag at the plate in the ninth, giving Pittsburgh a win over St. Louis as Pirates ace Paul Skenes' winless streak reached six starts. Pittsburgh's Ke'Bryan Hayes led off the bottom of the eighth with a single off Phil Maton (1-3). Pinch-hitter Adam Frazier doubled to right and Hayes scored on Davis' fly ball to center. St. Louis had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth when Victor Scott hit a slow chopper that first baseman Spencer Horwitz fielded and threw to Davis, who tagged Jose Fermin at the plate. Skenes pitched five scoreless innings and allowed five hits and one walk and struck out five while throwing 88 pitches. Skenes, who is 4-7 with a 2.03 ERA, has not won since May 28 at Arizona and is winless in six starts against the Cardinals. Advertisement ANGELS 4, BRAVES 0 ATLANTA (AP) — Jo Adell's run-scoring double in the eighth inning ended a scoreless tie and Los Angeles beat Atlanta. The Angels (42-42) reached .500 for the ninth time this season, while the Braves (38-46) have lost five of six. Adell's double down the left-field line off Dylan Lee (1-3) drove in Mike Trout, who doubled. Jorge Soler, who came off the injured list after missing 11 games with lower back inflammation, added a two-run double off Enyel De Los Santos in the four-run inning. Angels shortstop Zach Neto returned as the leadoff hitter after missing four starts with a jammed right shoulder. Advertisement ATHLETICS 4, RAYS 3, 10 INNINGS TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Austin Wynns hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and the Athletics handed Tampa Bay a loss, their third straight. The Rays' last three-game skid came against the the Phillies at home in early May and they have now lost four of five to last-place teams. Colby Thomas, who got his first career hit earlier, started the 10th on second base and was sacrificed to third by Denzel Clarke. No. 9 hitter Max Schuemann, who was starting in place of Jacob Wilson, the second-leading hitter in the majors who was a late scratch with a sore right hamstring, worked Mason Montgomery (1-2) for a walk ahead of pinch-hitter Wynns. Advertisement CUBS 5, GUARDIANS 2 CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd pitched seven sharp innings for his eighth win, Seiya Suzuki cracked his team-leading 23rd homer and Chicago topped sliding Cleveland. Carson Kelly doubled twice with a sac fly for three RBIs. Michael Busch went 3-for-3 and drove in a run to help NL Central-leading Chicago win its 50th game. Carlos Santana had two hits, including his 400th career double, but Cleveland dropped its fifth straight. The Guardians scored two runs in the fourth — ending a skid of 17 straight scoreless innings — on Nolan Jones' RBI single and Angel Martínez's sacrifice fly. Cleveland has scored in just two of its last 45 innings. Advertisement Boyd (8-3) allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeout and one walk. The left-hander finished by retiring 11 straight hitters before Brad Keller entered for the eighth. Daniel Palencia struck out two in a perfect ninth for his ninth save. RANGERS 10, ORIOLES 2 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom won his fifth consecutive decision in another impressive start, Adolis García drove in four runs and Texas beat Baltimore. Alejandro Osuna hit his first career homer for Texas, which had gone extra innings in each of its previous four games — losing three of those. DeGrom (9-2, 2.13 ERA) struck out six over six innings in his 14th consecutive start working at least five innings and allowing two runs or fewer. That extended his franchise record and is the longest streak in the majors this season. Advertisement The two-time Cy Young Award winner scattered five hits, allowing a two-run homer to Gary Sánchez in the fourth that just cleared the wall. Six nights earlier in Baltimore, deGrom was perfect through six innings and took a no-hitter into the eighth. ASTROS 6, ROCKIES 5 DENVER (AP) — Victor Caratini hit his third career grand slam, Christian Walker went 3 for 4 with an RBI and Houston beat Colorado. The Astros have won seven of eight and 15 of their last 19 games. The Rockies have lost nine of 11 following their first four-game winning streak, falling to a major league-worst 19-66. Colorado's losses are tied for the most by a major league team in the modern era through the first 85 games. Advertisement The Rockies are 8-33 at Coors Field, tied with the 2003 Tigers for the worst start through the first 41 home games of a season in the modern era. Caratini's homer in the third gave Houston a 6-1 lead. DIAMONDBACKS 8, GIANTS 2 PHOENIX (AP) — Jake McCarthy hit a three-run homer, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added a two-run shot and Arizona hit four homers in a win over San Francisco. Right-hander Zac Gallen (6-9) struck out 10 over seven strong innings, giving up just one earned run and bouncing back from a mediocre stretch of outings. Randal Grichuk and James McCann added back-to-back solo homers in the sixth to push the D-backs lead to 8-2. Advertisement San Francisco has lost seven of its past eight games. ROYALS 6, MARINERS 3 SEATTLE (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a pivotal two-run double in the fifth inning, and Kansas City beat Seattle for just their second win in 10 games. Perez lofted a fly ball off Emerson Hancock (3-5) that center fielder Julio Rodríguez lost in the twilight sky and dropped for a two-run double. Rodríguez climbed the center-field wall, trying to rob a home run, but he misjudged the ball and it bounced to the wall as the Royals took a 5-1 lead. Ben Williamson hit an RBI double in the bottom half and scored on J.P. Crawford's single off Michael Lorenzen. Advertisement Five relievers combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit relief. Lucas Erceg (3-2) entered with two on in the seventh and got a double-play grounder and a groundout, and Carlos Estévez pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances. DODGERS 6, WHITE SOX 1 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani reached 30 homers for the fifth straight season, hitting a fourth-inning drive after fouling a pitch off the plate umpire, and Los Angeles beat Chicago. Ohtani fouled the ball off Alan Porter's right knee in the fourth. Ohtani checked on the umpire and stood by watching until Parker got up under his own power. The three-time MVP then hit a 408-foot shot to center, snapping an 0-for-6 skid and extending the lead to 6-1. Advertisement Ohtani walked over and checked on Porter again during the seventh-inning stretch before leading off. Los Angeles scored its most runs this season in support of Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-6), staking the Japanese right-hander to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The Dodgers won for the 13th time in 16 games and opened a season-high, eight-game NL West lead. Every run in the game was scored with two outs. Yamamoto allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked one.
Fox Sports
44 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Wells, Grisham return but Yankees lose again, drop into first-place tie with Blue Jays
Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Yankees catcher Austin Wells returned to action Wednesday following a three-game absence, coming on as a pinch runner in the eight inning of New York's 11-9 loss at Toronto. The Yankees are 13-18 since May 28, losing six of the past 10 series. 'We've got to play better,' slugger Aaron Judge said. 'That's what it comes down to. If we play better, we'll put ourselves in a better position." Outfielder Trent Grisham also returned, coming in to pinch hit for DJ LeMahieu earlier in the eighth and playing center field. Grisham left Monday's game after a cleat caught the turf. Wells had been sidelined since Saturday as Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the catcher was recovering from an invasive test for a circulatory issue in his left index finger. He ran for Giancarlo Stanton after the DH walked. Ben Rice started at catcher against Toronto on Wednesday night after making his second and third starts behind the plate this season against the Athletics last weekend. Rice couldn't come up with a wild pitch from Devin Williams in the bottom of the eighth that allowed George Springer to score the tiebreaking run. 'That on me there,' Rice said. 'I've got to find a way to keep it in front.' Williams said Rice wasn't to blame. 'I've got to make a better pitch there,' Williams said. 'It wasn't the easiest one to block for Ben.' Right-hander Luis Gil missed a scheduled throwing session Tuesday because his wife was giving birth, Boone said before the game. The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year instead will throw on Thursday. Gil has not pitched for the Yankees this season because of a high-grade lat strain in his pitching shoulder. The Yankees recalled right-hander Clayton Beeter from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday and righty Geoff Hartlieb was designated for assignment. Beeter was 0-0 with a 1.02 ERA in 16 games at Triple-A, where he struck out 29 batters in 17 2/3 innings. Beeter had two saves in three chances. 'He's been on our board now for a couple of years kind of pushing the envelope to be part of the mix,' Boone said. 'He's really talented. Hopefully he can come up here and carve out a spot for himself in the bullpen.' Hartlieb made his only Yankees appearance in Tuesday's 12-5 loss, allowing three runs in one inning. ___ AP MLB: recommended
