Mark Madden: Message to Pirates — free Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes isn’t eligible for salary arbitration till 2027. He currently makes a paltry $875,000.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are unlikely to retain Skenes through his three arbitration years — because they won’t want to pay what’s decided — and have zero chance of keeping him when he hits free agency after the 2029 season.

Their window to win with Skenes is now.

But the Pirates’ payroll ranks fourth-lowest in MLB. Their roster has too many players who don’t belong in the big leagues. They’re 15-32. They stink.

The Pirates don’t prioritize winning. That’s never been more evident.

The Pirates can’t develop. That’s never been more evident.

The Pirates should be fair to Skenes and trade him now.

They could get a big return of prospects. Pile them on top of Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco. You can keep peddling a fake future.

Better yet, owner Bob Nutting could make his greed naked and sell Skenes for a quarter-billion. Maybe more.

But this can’t go on. Skenes is the Cullinan Diamond in a giant pile of horse manure. It’s embarrassing.

Look at Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Philadelphia.

Skenes pitched eight innings, a complete game. He allowed three singles. (One should have been ruled an error.) He walked one and fanned nine. The Phillies plated the game’s only run on a fielder’s choice.

But the Pirates got just six singles and were shut out for the eighth time this year. (Against a starting pitcher making his MLB debut.)

The Pirates are historically bad. On pace to lose 110 games.

Skenes shouldn’t have to be part of that.

He should be traded now. Or he should fake elbow tightness and sit.

It’s like when the Phillies lost 97 games in 1972 but Hall of Famer Steve Carlton won 27.

Except it’s not because those Phillies gave Carlton enough run support to get wins.

Skenes has a 2.44 ERA but is 3-5. The Pirates are 3-7 in games he starts.

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The Pirates have zero redeeming qualities besides Skenes.

Their two “best” hitters are bums: Bryan Reynolds is hitting .203. Oneil Cruz is hitting .223 and has zero hits and eight strikeouts in his last nine at-bats entering Monday.

Andrew McCutchen is a mascot. At 38, no other team would have him.

Ke’Bryan Hayes has one home run.

Spencer Horwitz finally showed up. He’s 1 for 6.

Jared Jones likely needs Tommy John surgery.

It doesn’t matter who the manager is.

The owner is running a con. The GM is either his accomplice or clueless or both.

Skenes is stuck in the middle. He’s like Marc Fogel in a Russian prison. (That’s been used before but never gets old.)

The Pirates won’t spend. Won’t legitimately try to win. Can’t develop. The roster is ca-ca.

What’s the point of keeping Skenes?

If the Pirates keep losing when Skenes pitches, he won’t even sell many tickets for his home starts.

Trade Skenes. Don’t make him suffer.

Pirates fans would support trading Skenes, or at least understand.

The Pirates are a hopeless situation. Now and forevermore.

Free Paul Skenes.