The New York Yankees remain interested in acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, according to a report published on Mar. 27. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported in the New York Post that the Yankees attempted to trade for Skenes before last year’s Trade Deadline and are expected to continue their pursuit if he becomes available.
This development is significant as Skenes has quickly become one of Major League Baseball’s top pitchers. He is a two-time All-Star and recently won the National League Cy Young Award after posting a league-best 1.97 earned run average over 32 starts for Pittsburgh during the 2025 season. The previous year, he was named National League Rookie of the Year.
Skenes had an unusual start to his current season, recording just two outs in his Opening Day appearance against the Mets in New York before being removed after throwing 37 pitches in the first inning. Despite this outing, he remains regarded as one of baseball’s elite starting pitchers and is considered by some as possibly the best in the National League.
The Pirates maintain team control over Skenes through at least the end of the 2029 season, which could make any potential trade complex. While there has been speculation about factors that might influence his future—including that his girlfriend Livvy Dunne lives in New York—there is no indication this would impact negotiations between teams.
Skenes originally hails from Orange County, California, played college baseball at Air Force and Louisiana State University (LSU), and currently resides in South Florida.
