Pirates GM shuts down Paul Skenes trade rumors despite disappointing start

However, Cherington shut that notion down. 

"No, it's not part of the conversation at all," Cherington said on Wednesday.

The Pirates' team batting average is .219, which is the second-lowest in baseball. A trade of Skenes, while he remains under team control for the rest of the decade, would provide the Pirates with a bevy of talent that could infuse their lineup. 

Cherington knows the lineup is an issue, but does not want to trade Skenes. 

"We've just got to get better," Cherington said. "Let's play better baseball, and that's going to lead to winning more games. Then, let's wake up and see where that takes us when we get to July."

"We want guys from Triple-A to pound the door down," Cherington said. "That would be good. I still think that can happen this year. We want more of it over time. . . . Everybody knows we've got to score more runs. That's not going to happen just by saying it and hoping for it. You've got to do the work to do it."

The Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton a couple of weeks ago, but that hasn't changed their losing ways. 

The starting rotation has been solid but has received little help from the lineup or bullpen.

Skenes (2.44), Mitch Keller (3.88), Andrew Heaney (2.91) and Bailey Falter (3.50) have all been great, yet they also have a combined record of 11-21.

In 33 career starts, Skenes is 14-8 with a 2.12 ERA and an astounding 232 strikeouts in 195.2 career innings pitched. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.