Even after a whirlwind week that saw him crowned National League Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes found himself forced to address something far less celebratory: a report suggesting he’s already counting the days until he can bolt Pittsburgh for the New York Yankees.
The rumor surfaced last week courtesy of NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller, who cited an unnamed Pirates teammate claiming Skenes was desperate to wear pinstripes and would welcome a trade to the New York Yankees long before his free agency arrives in four years.
The story broke on the very day Skenes officially claimed baseball’s most prestigious pitching honor—an awkward collision of triumph and speculation.
The 23-year-old right-hander wasted little time pushing back. First came a brief statement the night the report dropped, then a more forceful denial Tuesday morning on the Dan Patrick Show.
“I was frustrated for a couple of hours and then got over it and talked to the media later that night,” Skenes said. “It is what it is. There’s stuff that’s gonna come out, good and bad. Obviously, it’s not true.”
Skenes’ tone was matter-of-fact, almost dismissive, as he brushed aside the notion that he’s secretly angling for an exit. The former LSU standout insisted the chatter hasn’t shaken his focus or his loyalty to the only big-league organization he’s ever known.Pittsburgh’s decade-long playoff drought—the longest active streak in Major League Baseball—naturally fuels skepticism about the franchise’s ability to build a contender around its new ace.
Ownership’s reluctance to spend aggressively in free agency only amplifies the whispers that Skenes, like Gerrit Cole and others before him, will eventually seek greener pastures.
Yet the Cy Young winner made it clear he isn’t preoccupied with what might happen years from now. His priority remains the mound at PNC Park and helping drag the Pirates out of their prolonged rebuild.
Until Pittsburgh proves willing to surround its cornerstone pitcher with legitimate lineup help, though, trade rumors figure to follow Skenes like a shadow—no matter how many times he insists he’s not looking for the nearest lifeboat.
