Pirates’ Paul Skenes ‘Hoping For’ Trade To Yankees: REPORT

Paul Skenes in pinstripes? … I’m game.

Skenes claimed the 2024 Rookie of the Year after a commanding debut. Far from any sophomore slump, he delivered another elite 2025 campaign: a 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts, 2.36 FIP across 187 innings, with only 42 walks and 136 hits surrendered. He’s the clear frontrunner for the NL Cy Young, and deservingly so.

Yet, pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skenes finished 10-10 while his team limped to 71-91, 20 games below .500 and last place in the NL Central. Under club control through 2029, the same weary question already echoes: will Pittsburgh ever invest enough to field a contender?

A new report suggests Skenes has already concluded they won’t. He’s apparently not keen on becoming the pitching equivalent of Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout — trapped in MLB limbo while other teams contend. (RELATED: Brawl Between Capitals-Hurricanes Gets So Wild That We Had Bloodshed, Rabid Mascot Trying To Get Involved)

Per Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media, Skenes has confided to teammates his wish to exit Pittsburgh at the earliest opportunity, and perhaps land with the New York Yankees.

“According to a Pirates teammate who recently spoke with NJ Advance Media,” reads the article. “Skenes has ‘no confidence the Pirates ever are going to win’ with him in Pittsburgh, and he’s ‘hoping for a trade’ well before he can become a free agent after the 2029 season.”

“‘Trust me, he wants to play for the Yankees,’ the Skenes teammate said. ‘I’ve heard him say it multiple times.’”

Paul Skenes wants to play for the Yankees, one of his Pirates teammates told @RandyJMiller

Skenes reportedly has no confidence the Pirates will ever win, and he wants to be traded well before his free agency begins after the 2029 season pic.twitter.com/GbEHc0VdIy

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 12, 2025

I don’t see Pittsburgh even entertaining the idea of trading Paul Skenes before the last year of his contract, but we’ll see what happens.