Pirates' Paul Skenes wants to join Yankees, could form deadly trio with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried

Hunter Cookston

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Pirates' Paul Skenes wants to join Yankees, could form deadly trio with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried image

The New York Yankees are coming off a season where their journey to the World Series ended in the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays. This offseason, the Yankees are expected to make several moves, with pitching being a key area of focus as injuries piled up.

“The New York Yankees have a multitude of needs this offseason, but starting pitching ranks near the top of that list. With both Carlos Rodón (elbow) and Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to miss the beginning of the 2026 season, the club should have at least spot open in their rotation next to Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil and Will Warren,” SI’s Jack Markowski wrote.

A name now surfacing in trade discussions is Paul Skenes. Reports suggest that one of his teammates has indicated Skenes no longer wants to remain in Pittsburgh.

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

This development makes sense. Skenes is one of the top pitchers in the game and wants to compete at the highest level — something that won’t happen in Pittsburgh. The only obstacle is that GM Ben Cherington isn’t currently willing to pull the trigger on a trade.

“The question gets asked, and it's always respectful," Cherington said at the MLB general managers meetings. "Teams have to ask the question. I suspect that won't end. But the answer's been consistent."

With rumors circulating that the Yankees are interested in Skenes, they may be able to put together a package the Pirates can’t refuse. New York could easily offer a deal too compelling to turn down.

It’s clear that Skenes isn’t likely to spend his entire career in Pittsburgh. If the Pirates want to be strategic, they should consider leveraging a blockbuster deal to move him.

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