### Rising Star Paul Skenes Unfazed by Trade Speculation Amid Pirates' Struggles

PITTSBURGH - While trade rumors swirled around Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, he remained unflappable after his team's dramatic 6-5, 10-inning victory over Milwaukee. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington dismissed the idea of trading the 22-year-old dynamo, emphasizing that such moves are "not at all part of the conversation." Upon hearing about Cherington's remarks, Skenes laughed, insisting it "doesn't affect anything."

This headline-grabbing denial shines a light on the Pirates' current predicament. Despite being well out of playoff contention before Memorial Day, Skenes has learned to separate the noise from legitimate news. "There's no substance to all that talk you hear on social media and news outlets," he explained, underlining his focus on pitching over speculative chatter.

Skenes, who celebrated his first year in the majors two weeks ago, is realistic about the business side of baseball - a lesson underscored when manager Derek Shelton was let go on May 8. Yet, he remains dedicated to his craft without concerning himself about potential trades. "There could very well be a time when Skenes moves on, either by Pittsburgh's choice or his own. That time, at least to Skenes, isn’t coming anytime soon," he stated.

With Pittsburgh ranking last in the major leagues in runs and lacking high-profile position player prospects, Skenes acknowledged Cherington's challenging task. "Ben's job is to create a winning team and a winning organization. So, what it looks like to him (is up to him)," Skenes said, adding that he wouldn’t take it personally if a trade were to happen.

Since being the top pick in the 2023 draft, Skenes has lived up to the hype. The 6-foot-6 right-hander debuted last May and has been a standout even as his team has struggled, including a 26-game streak of failing to score more than four runs. Skenes recently pitched a six-inning gem against Milwaukee, allowing just one run and striking out eight, though the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.

Despite the team's performance, Skenes maintains hope. "It's nice to see us pull it out, which is something that we haven't done as much to this point in the year," he said after Friday’s comeback win. Fully invested since his draft day, Skenes has embraced his role as a young star and the face of the franchise, immersing himself in the team and the city.

Reflecting on the external speculation about potential trades, Skenes shrugged it off. "I don't feel anything good or bad toward it," he remarked, suggesting it isn't worth expending energy over. As the Pirates aim to turn their season around, Skenes' focus remains on his performance and developing chemistry with catcher Henry Davis, the top pick in the 2021 draft.

For now, Skenes continues to concentrate on the tasks at hand, hoping that consistent effort and learning will guide the Pirates to better days. "Just really got to keep doing what we're doing, continue learning and let everything take care of itself, I guess," he concluded.