Paul Skenes answers the crossfire: “Not true” and commits to Pittsburgh

In the middle of an award-winning season and external noise, Paul Skenes chose the direct route. He shut down the rumor that tied him to a supposed wish to join the Yankees and reaffirmed his focus on Pittsburgh. The Pirates ace labeled the report “frustrating,” as it surfaced just hours before his Cy Young announcement, and denied it firmly. The sequence says a lot about the moment: competitive focus, zero tolerance for distractions, and an internal message that protects the project.

The spark came from a report attributed to insider Randy Miller, citing an anonymous teammate who claimed Paul Skenes wanted to leave for New York and doubted the Pirates could win before his free agency in 2029. Skenes responded immediately on 93.7 The Fan. Saying he had no idea where that version came from and that his goal is to win in Pittsburgh. He expanded the point the next day on Dan Patrick’s show, admitting he was upset “for a couple of hours,” then moved on, stressing again that “it’s not true.” Managing noise is part of the game.

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

Skenes “will be a Pirate in 2026”

The organization backed him with a clear stance. At the GM meetings in Las Vegas, Ben Cherington was explicit. Paul Skenes “will be a Pirate in 2026.” He added that the team now has more flexibility than ever to explore free agents and possible trades to strengthen the roster. It was a double move: protecting the ace while opening the door to reinforcements that could change the context fueling speculation. As Firstsportz reported, this snapshot captures the tension between rumor and reality with precise timing and detail.

Behind the controversy lies elite performance. Paul Skenes was Rookie of the Year in 2024 and won the National League Cy Young unanimously in 2025: a 10-10 record across 32 starts, a 1.97 ERA, and 216 strikeouts (second-best in the league). His individual dominance contrasted with limited offensive support, a pattern that pressured narratives about his future but one he chose to confront with public commitment to Pittsburgh’s rebuild.

Never a doubt.

Paul Skenes is your 2025 NL Cy Young Award Winner! pic.twitter.com/bYQeW9ftHz

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) November 13, 2025

Silencing the noise

The Pirates’ context explains the speculation and why his response matters. Paul Skenes leads a staff searching for identity while the franchise emerges from a stretch without a winning record since 2018 (82-79). In 2025, Pittsburgh finished 71-91, again at the bottom of the NL Central. Across his first two seasons, the team went 147-177. The picture isn’t flattering, but the technical discourse points to roster upgrades and a stronger foundation built around pitching and defense.

Beyond headlines, the final message is simple and powerful. Paul Skenes will not feed rumors; he will sustain processes. If Pittsburgh delivers on its promise to add competitive pieces and keeps the division’s best arm at peak level, the narrative can shift from speculation to victories. That’s the goal. Closing the gap between a Cy Young’s performance and the ceiling of a franchise that needs to believe again.