Perhaps the best starting pitcher in baseball reportedly wants the pinstripes.
According to NJ.com’s Randy Miller, Paul Skenes has told at least one Pirates teammate that he has no faith in Pittsburgh building a team capable of contending, and he would like to join the Yankees. The 2024 Rookie of the Year reportedly wants to be dealt long before he hits free agency in 2029, and if he had it his way, he would be heading to the Bronx.
“Trust me, he wants to play for the Yankees,” the anonymous teammate told Miller. “I’ve heard him say it multiple times.”
Pirates general manager declared that Skenes would be a Pirate in 2026, and the focus is on upgrading the team around him. Based on the team’s history under owner Bob Nutting, it is more than fair if Skenes has his doubts about that declaration, as Pittsburgh has been notorious for its low payroll and dealing away young talent before they are due for a payday in free agency. Skenes is perhaps the brightest star yet for the Pirates, pitching to a 1.97 ERA in 2025 in his second consecutive All-Star campaign. His ERA led the league, and he racked up 216 strikeouts in 187.2 innings of work.
Any deal for Skenes would of course cost a boatload, likely starting with Cam Schlittler. But should the Pirates be out of contention early in 2026 and change their stance on Skenes, the trade market would be unprecedented given his talent, age, and years left of team control. Should the Yanks and Pirates link up for a trade, it would be far from the first time, as the Bombers have acquired pitchers like Clay Holmes and David Bednar from Pittsburgh in recent years.
Picturing the righty Skenes in a rotation that includes Max Fried, a returning Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and eventually Clarke Schmidt is a dream scenario for Yankee fans, but for now, even if Skenes’ desire is to be a Yankee, the dream is only that.