Far-fetched Pirates-Astros trade pitch would provide Paul Skenes with more run support

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Far-fetched Pirates-Astros trade pitch would provide Paul Skenes with more run support image

May 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) reacts as he is removed from the game during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates are on a mission to end their postseason drought that extends back to 2015.

With Paul Skenes on the mound, the Pirates are capable of defeating any team in the Majors.

And though they made several offseason moves to improve their offense, they still could use at least one more bat. At this moment, signing Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract appears regrettable.

Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly wrote Thursday that the Pirates could swing a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros, but how realistic is Kelly's idea?

"It's interesting to think about the Pirates being super aggressive and trying to pry someone like [Yordan] Alvarez away from the Astros," Kelly wrote. "It would cost a pretty penny to get Alvarez, but he's signed for two more seasons, allowing them to potentially make the most of their remaining time with Skenes."

Aside from the high cost, it would take serious convincing for the Astros to depart with potentially the best hitter in baseball when healthy.

It may not even be possible, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. On Wednesday, Olney said on the "Just Baseball Show" that he's been informed the Astros have no plans of trading Alvarez.

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“I was told flat out by another GM, ‘He is not being traded," Olney said.

Alvarez leads the AL with 21 home runs, hitting .314 with six homers in his last 10 games.

Adding that kind of production and power to Pittsburgh's lineup could make them a serious threat in the NL, but the odds of that happening seem very low.