MLB Rumors: Grading Goldschmidt trade, Giants sellers turned buyers, MLB Draft buzz
By Kristen Wong
MLB Rumors: Pirates could take Paul Skenes with No. 1 pick
Most MLB pundits believe the Pittsburgh Pirates will take Dylan Crews with their first pick of the draft.
The Athletic’s Keith Law (subscription required) would like to respectfully disagree.
Law sees the Pirates drafting ace Paul Skenes over the outfielder. Why? According to Law, “there’s a rumor running around that Dylan Crews doesn’t want to go to the Pirates for some reason.”
While Pittsburgh may still go after Crews, fellow LSU star Paul Skenes may turn out to be the better long-term pick. His scouting report reads:
"Skenes is the hardest-throwing amateur starter I’ve ever seen, even beating out Hunter Greene and Gerrit Cole; when I saw Skenes pitch at the Box this April, he hit 100 or 101 mph seven times in the first inning and didn’t throw a fastball under 96. If you’re going into the draft hoping you can find a Justin Verlander type, he’s your guy."
So, Crews or Skenes? One of them is going first. The Pirates only have a handful of days to figure out which player they want.
Either way, it’s Geaux Pirates.
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