New Paul Skenes Trade Rumors on Yankees' Pursuit of Pirates Star, Offer at Deadline

Paul Skenes is under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates through the 2029 campaign, but that reportedly didn't stop the New York Yankees from pursuing him as early as last season.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday the American League East team "tried for Skenes at the deadline but were shut down so quickly the Pirates didn't even listen to the offer."

Pittsburgh rejecting New York so profoundly comes as anything but a surprise.

After all, Skenes is just 23 years old, under team control for the foreseeable future and the franchise cornerstone for the National League Central club. He took home the NL Rookie of the Year in his first season in 2024 and then followed that up as the NL Cy Young winner in his second in 2025.

He posted a league-best 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 216 strikeouts in 187.2 innings last season and was nearly unhittable for extended stretches.

However, Pittsburgh is also surely aware of the reality he may not pitch for the team throughout his entire career.

While Heyman reported the Pirates have "no intention to trade Skenes ... in the foreseeable future," he also explained there is "little hope to sign him long term under current rules since he'll probably be a $50 million-a-year pitcher assuming a payroll cap isn't implemented."

With that looming, "expect the Yankees to circle back if they ever detect even a glimmer of an opening."

According to Heyman, New York was willing to offer four top prospects ahead of the 2025 deadline. If there comes a time in the next year or two where Pittsburgh is hopelessly out of the NL Central race and staring at what could be a long rebuild, such a package of top-notch prospects could start to look intriguing.

For now, though, Skenes remains the face of the franchise in Pittsburgh despite an uncharacteristic performance from the ace in Thursday's Opening Day when the New York Mets knocked him out of the game in just 0.2 innings.