Pirates Q&A: Is Paul Skenes Already Generational? Will Don Kelly Return?
Welcome back to another edition of our Pittsburgh Pirates Q&A. Let’s get to your questions.
Is Skenes a generational talent? And how do we know that he is? – @burghatmebro
Under just about any other circumstance, I’d have a hard time labeling any player who hasn’t spent two full seasons in the big leagues as generational, but Paul Skenes is the exception.
Skenes won Rookie of the Year in his first season. He will likely win Cy Young in his second season. He also became the first pitcher to start the All-Star Game in each of his first two seasons. Through 52 starts to begin his career, his ERA is 1.97.
I’d say he’s already generational. If anyone disagrees, there’s at least no denying he’s on that path.
Is Don a lock to be Manager next season? Since late July, Pirates have best record – Jason Williams
There has been no determination yet as to whether or not Don Kelly will return as manager in 2026, but given how the Pirates have played during his tenure, the right move would be to bring him back.
After taking over a sinking ship, Kelly is 52-54 through 106 games as manager. Is that good enough? No, but he has the Pirates playing closer to their potential. He’s also someone the clubhouse has a lot of respect for and is widely-respected around the game.
The decision very well could come down to whether or not Ben Cherington returns as GM. Even if the Pirates move on, Kelly should return, in my opinion.
Is this late season hurrah just that? – Derf Esurk
I think their play over the last couple months is more of what everyone expected heading into the season. Since Kelly took over, they’re on a 79-win pace. That’s about what I had them at at the start of the year.
I think the late season hurrah is more than that. A couple guys in the lineup are playing more towards what’s expected. Bryan Reynolds and Spencer Horwitz are giving the Pirates what they had hoped for after slow starts to the season.
But the biggest reason for the surge is the pitching. They’ve received playoff-caliber pitching all season long, and it’s been strengthened by what the young pitchers have done.
The pitching is a reason to believe this is real and provides optimism headed into next season. But the offense will need to be upgraded or it will be another year without October baseball on the North Shore.
Was always curious, do the players, staff etc. pay for there own housing when the team is in Pittsburgh? – Ron Flanagan
Players pay for their own housing in Pittsburgh. Most rent in Pittsburgh during the season and leave for their permanent residence in the offseason.
When a player is called up from Triple-A, the Pirates will usually post him up in a hotel room somewhere, but MLB players are in charge of their own arrangements for the season.
It might be that the Pirates are looking for a new market inefficiency. They are pairing good young pitchers up for 3-4 innings a piece. This bypasses a bad relief pen and limits innings on young arms. What might a Skenes, followed by Mlod/Burrows, Chandler/Ashcraft, etc rotation look like next year? Assuming a trade for Keller. Are there pitchers that naturally pair up due to stuff matchups? Like Chandler level heat followed by someone with a nasty curve ball and off speed stuff? – Tim Davis
I think the way the Pirates are operating right now is more of trying to be mindful innings for their young pitchers. Several players are already at or have exceeded their career-high in innings at any professional level. With that being said, it’s an interesting idea for the Pirates to consider having guys piggy-back off each other.
Assuming Keller gets traded, my 2026 Opening Day starting rotation would probably be Skenes-Chandler-Ashcraft-Oviedo-Free Agent LHP. That leaves Mike Burrows and Carmen Mlodzinski has possible bulk relievers. I wouldn’t mind seeing Burrows and Ashcraft alternate roles in similar fashion to this season. I think it would be wise to put Jared Jones — once he returns from elbow surgery — in a bulk role too, at least initially. And to be honest, I’m intrigued to see how Jones would fare as a closer.
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