Newly crowned National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes addressed speculation that he’s seeking a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Yankees, firmly dismissing the reports and reiterating his commitment to Pittsburgh.
The rumors began earlier in the day when an NJ Advance Media story quoted an anonymous Pirates player claiming Skenes had expressed a desire to be traded to New York. Skenes said he was shown the post and received messages about it but “didn’t think much about it.” Skenes told reporters: “I don’t know where that came from. I don’t know the reporter. I don’t know the player that supposedly said that. But the goal is to win, and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh.”
The 23-year-old right-hander added that he’s aware of the perception that the Pirates are longshots in the National League, but he’s determined to help change that narrative. “The way that fans see us outside of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh is not supposed to win. There are 29 fan bases that expect us to lose. I want to be a part of the 26 guys that change that,” he said.
Skenes capped off a historic start to his career by becoming the first pitcher since Dwight Gooden in the mid-1980s to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors in consecutive seasons. In 2025, he led Major League Baseball with a 1.97 ERA, striking out 216 batters over 187⅓ innings, and finished with a 10-10 record after winning three of his final four decisions. The previous season, he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA across 23 starts.
Despite his stellar performance, Pittsburgh finished 71-91 in 2025, with the franchise having reached the postseason just three times in the past 33 years. However, Skenes expressed hope that he can help reverse the team’s fortunes. “I’m on the Pirates. My goal is to win with the Pirates. I love the city of Pittsburgh. The fans are hungry to have a winner in Pittsburgh and I want to be part of the group that did that,” he said.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington echoed that sentiment, saying the team has no plans to move Skenes. Speaking at the MLB general managers meetings in Las Vegas, Cherington said while teams often inquire about the ace, the response has always been firm. “The question gets asked, and it’s always respectful. Teams have to ask the question. I suspect that won’t end. But the answer’s been consistent,” he said.
Skenes remains under team control through 2029, with arbitration eligibility beginning in 2027 and free agency not until 2030. He is expected to report to spring training in February and will represent Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic next March.
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