Paul Skenes Squashes Yankees Trade Rumor: ‘My Goal is to Win With the Pirates’
It’s been a historic first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates for Paul Skenes.
The 2023 first-overall pick has not only been an All-Star both twice, but became the first pitcher in MLB history to start for the National League in the Midsummer Classic in each of his first two seasons.
Skenes was named Rookie of the Year in 2024, the first Pirate to win the award since Jason Bay in 2004. On Wednesday, he became just the third Pirates’ pitcher to win National League Cy Young and the first to win unanimously.
Furthermore, Skenes, who has a 1.96 career ERA, is one of three pitchers in MLB history to post a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 55 starts.
But on the very day he was announced as the Cy Young, a different story generated most of the attention.
A report from NJ.com stated that an unnamed Pirates’ teammate stated that Skenes wishes to play for the New York Yankees and would like to get out of Pittsburgh before he’s scheduled for free agency following the 2029 season.
Skenes addressed the false rumor during a media availability on Wednesday night.
“I got shown the tweet and really didn’t think anything of it. I got some texts about it. I’m on the Pirates, my goal is to win with the Pirates. I love the City of Pittsburgh” said Skenes. “The fans are hungry to have a winner in Pittsburgh and I want to be a part of the group that did that.”
Having been around Skenes for the past two seasons, I knew immediately that the report was untrue. The 23-year-old is as dedicated to his craft as anyone I’ve seen. Despite his youth, he’s shown leadership both by example and with his words.
Is he frustrated by the team’s lack of winning during his time in Pittsburgh? Sure, who wouldn’t be? But as Skenes said, he’s a Pirate and wants to win while he’s here.
“I don’t know where that came from, the goal is to win,” he explained. “I don’t know the reporter that reported it. I don’t know the player that supposedly said that, but the goal is to win and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh.”
Skenes understands the history of the Pirates — or lack thereof in recent memory. It’s been 46 years since the Pirates last hoisted the World Series trophy, which Skenes is well aware of. It’s now been over a decade since they last made it to the postseason, which he also knows.
He also gets the frustration of the fanbase. In fact, he went as far to say that he appreciates when fans don’t show up when the Pirates aren’t winning.
But even beyond Pittsburgh, Skenes realizes the perception of the Pirates in not only Major League Baseball, but fans around the country as a whole. He remains motivated in trying to change that image.
“Pittsburgh, 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 group, a part of the 26 guys that change that.”
Towards the end of our zoom call, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review asked Skenes about new pitching coach Bill Murphy — an addition the Pirates’ ace is excited about, by the way.
Skenes said there are two types of people who come to the Pirates. The first do it for selfish reasons, whether to build their resume or those or are hopeful to play well enough to land a bigger contract elsewhere. The second type of person is someone who understands the identity of Pittsburgh and understands how special it would be to build a winner here.
Make no mistake about it. Skenes falls in the latter.
“The focus needs to be winning a World Series in Pittsburgh” he said. “We haven’t done it since 1979. That’s 46 years. It’s not the longest drought in Major League Baseball but that’s something we’re working to change from within the clubhouse. I know the organization is doing the same thing. That’s why I’m throwing and lifting and doing all that right now. That’s the goal. I have the Cy Young now. What else do I have to accomplish in this game? A World Series championship.”
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