Paul Skenes has become a familiar face at the All-Star Game, representing the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third straight year. But during a media scrum on Monday at Citizens Bank Park, the ace encountered an interruption that left him scratching his head.
As Skenes was answering questions, a reporter abruptly cut him off mid-sentence with an unsolicited prediction about his future team. “Hey, sorry. I just got the best interview of all time with Paul Skenes,” the reporter said. “Future Yankee.”
A visibly confused Skenes took a moment to process the comment before asking, “Who’s that?” The awkward exchange was captured on video and quickly went viral, with another reporter in the room adding, “Wow, she’s super proud.”
The moment reignites ongoing chatter about Skenes’ long-term future in Pittsburgh. As a star on a low-payroll team, trade rumors have swirled for years, with the Yankees frequently mentioned as a potential destination. Last season, pundits debated whether the Pirates should shop their ace, but Skenes instead won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award with a stellar 1.97 ERA.
In November, NJ.com reported that Skenes had told teammates he’d love to play for the Yankees, a claim he quickly denied. “I don’t know where that came from. The goal is to win,” Skenes said at the time. “I don’t know the reporter that reported it. I don’t know the player that supposedly said that, but the goal is to win and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh.”
MLB insider Jon Heyman noted in March that the Yankees remain interested in Skenes after failing to acquire him last year. However, the Pirates have stayed competitive, entering the All-Star break with a 50-47 record, keeping them in the playoff hunt. Skenes hasn’t dominated as usual this season, posting a 3.57 ERA in 20 starts, but Pittsburgh still has a shot at ending an 11-year postseason drought.
With Skenes under team control through 2026, any move to New York seems unlikely in the near future. The incident underscores the persistent speculation surrounding the right-hander, who remains focused on winning in Pittsburgh despite the noise.
For now, Skenes’ immediate priority is representing the Pirates at the All-Star Game, not entertaining hypotheticals about pinstripes. The bizarre exchange serves as a reminder of the constant trade rumors that follow stars on small-market teams, especially when a team like the Yankees is involved. As for that reporter’s bold claim, only time will tell if it ever comes true.
