Should You Trade For/Away Paul Skenes in Fantasy Baseball Leagues?
Discussing how to approach Paul Skenes in fantasy baseball leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is among the biggest names in fantasy baseball right now.
The hard-throwing rookie is starting the All-Star Game just over a year after being drafted by the Pirates, and he’s been one of the best fantasy starting pitchers since making his MLB debut.
With all that in mind, and with the FantasySP Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer loaded with trades involving Skenes, I thought it was the perfect time to discuss the star pitcher as a trade candidate in fantasy leagues. Let’s dive in!
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Skenes’ Season Numbers
Skenes has made 11 starts this season so far and has yet to take a loss. He’s 6-0 with a 1.90 earned run average. Across 66 1/3 innings, Skenes has allowed 14 runs on 48 hits and 13 walks, while striking out 89 batters.
He’s worked at least four innings in each start and has three starts lasting seven frames. Skenes has allowed six or less hits in each start, while having two outings finish with no hits allowed.
The most runs Skenes has allowed is three, and that’s happened twice. He allowed two runs on two occasions and one run four times. Skenes has three scoreless outings to his name.
Skenes has had two or fewer walks in each start, including eight of his 11 outings finishing with one or no walks. Skenes has at least seven strikeouts in 10 of his 11 starts, and he’s tallied double-digit punchouts two times.
Skenes’ Fantasy Outlook
Skenes has simply dominated since being called up to the big leagues. Despite being drafted a season ago and not getting in a full year of play in the minor leagues, Skenes looks like he belongs.
What’s scary with Skenes is that he should only get better with more MLB experience. He’s just 22 years old and will surely find ways to limit opponent’s hits even more as time passes.
Many thought Skenes deserved a spot on the MLB team right out of spring training, but the Pirates helped limit his innings a bit in the minors before bringing him up.
Skenes is now owned and started in every league type. He could have been a waiver wire option in some deeper leagues and then standard leagues when he got called up, but the chances of adding Skenes for free are long gone now.
Despite only making 11 starts (most full-time starters this season are near 20), Skenes has shot up the FantasySP Trade Value Chart. He currently sits 55th overall, but really is more valuable than that at this point. He’s already worked his way into the leading fantasy starting pitcher leaderboard in points leagues.
There’s a thought that Skenes could have his innings limited, or that he could even be shut down at times over the rest of the season - in an effort to preserve his arm for the long haul. The Pirates are a .500 team right now and are just 1 1/2 games back in the wild card hunt.
The Pirates probably don’t have all the pieces to make a legit run at a World Series this season, but with a frontline starter like Skenes, I’d say Pittsburgh has a better chance of going for it than selling at the deadline.
I think it’s possible the Pirates give Skenes an extra day of rest here and there, but I don’t think they will put a cap on his innings, especially if they make a playoff push. He also might not pitch this well the rest of the season, but even if he regresses a bit, Skenes still should remain one of the better fantasy pitchers in the game the rest of the season.
How to Approach Skenes
We’ll take this last section in three parts, breaking things down by dynasty leagues, then deeper leagues and finally standard leagues.
In dynasty leagues, I’d say Skenes is untouchable. Usually my untouchable means it would take a big overpay to get the player, but in Skenes’ case in dynasty leagues, untouchable means untouchable.
Of course, it’d be silly not to accept an extremely lopsided trade, but regardless of what kind of situation your dynasty team is in right now, I would want to hang on to Skenes.
Outside of two-way star Shohei Ohtani, I don’t think there’s another pitcher I would argue is more valuable in a dynasty format than Skenes.
In deeper leagues, Skenes is a highly sought-after fantasy pitcher. I also think I’d feel more comfortable trading Skenes away in these leagues.
Why? Because a player like Skenes can completely change the course of your season.
If your deep league team is enjoying a strong season and Skenes has played a role in that, it’d be silly to move Skenes. He’s possibly the best fantasy starting pitcher right now, and becomes even more valuable when you are talking about large fantasy rosters.
If you have a middling or below-average deep league fantasy team, trading Skenes can instantly help you fill position(s) of need, or get much-needed depth. His trade value is sky high right now, so you need to make sure you are getting a better return before hitting accept.
While I’d officially tag Skenes as untouchable in standard leagues, that untouchable is my actual definition of that phrase - needing a steal in return in a trade.
You’re probably going to want a top-end fantasy pitcher in return, and you also probably could get a starting hitter in the same deal. If you are set with pitching, net yourself at least two starting fantasy hitters. I think at a minimum, Skenes gets you two starting hitters in return - and maybe more if you don’t go after a top-end fantasy talent.
Again, be sure you are getting a great return if you are the one trading Skenes away.
Trade Analyzer Decisions
Skenes is part of four popular trades on the FSP Trade Analyzer and they are all one-for-one deals. Let’s break them down quickly before wrapping up this article.
Skenes is part of a popular trade involving Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich.
I’d want the Skenes part of the deal in all formats. Yelich has a higher player rating because he’s had a huge season, but I’d still prefer Skenes over him for the stretch run.
I’d be close to accepting this deal straight up in a standard or deeper league if the circumstances were right (my team could survive without Skenes and needed an outfielder), but preferably I’d add a second player to each side of the deal to avoid losing a top-end fantasy pitcher and not getting one in return.
Skenes is part of another popular trade with Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez.
Again, I’d want Skenes in any league type, especially in a deeper or standard league. I’d need another startable player along with Rodriguez to consider moving Skenes.
In a dynasty league, I know Rodriguez is a top-end name, but I’m not as sold on him after his down season so far. Things could change by the end of the season if Rodriguez heats up, but right now, I’d prefer Skenes.
Skenes is in a popular trade with Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman. Freeman is a bit too old for my liking to acquire in a dynasty league, but in a standard or deep redraft league, this is a pretty strong trade.
The team situation would dictate my final decision, and while I’d prefer getting a guy like Freeman over Yelich or expanding this deal to avoid losing a pitcher and not getting one in return, I think Freeman is a good enough fantasy hitter to sign off on the one-for-one swap.
The last popular trade involves Skenes and Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. This is definitely an intriguing trade, and deserves a little breakdown for all league types.
Witt is my No. 1 dynasty hitter in dynasty leagues, and while I love Skenes and have him as my No. 1 dynasty pitcher, Witt gets the edge for me.
In standard and deeper redraft leagues, Witt is a top-five fantasy player right now. Skenes has been one of the better fantasy options since he’s got to the MLB. While it’s close, I’d give the edge to Witt and take that side of the trade. I’d prefer to expand the deal in redraft leagues and make sure each side gets a hitter and pitcher in return.
Happy trading!
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