Of Course Paul Skenes Wants To Join the New York Yankees

Paul Skenes had the baseball world buzzing after quotes from an anonymous Pittsburgh Pirates teammate went viral on Wednesday.

“Trust me, he wants to play for the Yankees,” the teammate told NJ.com’s Randy Miller. “I’ve heard him say it multiple times.”

According to Miller, the Pirates “understand” that Skenes wants to be a Yankee.

While the quote created a massive uproar online, it shouldn’t have. It’s arguably the most obvious outcome in the world — of course Skenes wants to play for the Yankees.

A few months ago, it was reported that Skenes and former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne attempted to purchase Babe Ruth’s old apartment in New York. The couple was declined, but it raised eyebrows about the 23-year-old Cy Young winner already having eyes on the Big Apple.

Dunne has eight million followers on TikTok and an additional five million on Instagram. Living in Pittsburgh isn’t exactly ideal for that kind of lifestyle.

Relationship and personal life aside, the Yankees have something the Pirates don’t — cash.

The Yankees are expected to rank fourth in MLB payroll heading into 2026, while the Pirates are currently 29th.

While Pirates owner Bob Nutting claims to have a plan to keep Skenes in Pittsburgh, the Yankees could easily make an offer the Pirates couldn’t match.

Skenes isn’t set to hit free agency until 2029. That’s where the good news ends for the Pirates, who finished 20 games under .500 despite having a Cy Young pitcher entering his prime.

Recent reports indicate the Pirates are open to spending in free agency this offseason, but the payroll is estimated at $30–40 million. Even at $40 million, that would rank only 25th in MLB.

The looming 2027 MLB lockout is another factor to watch regarding Skenes. The Dodgers repeating as World Series champions likely won’t help disputes regarding the salary cap and floor. Players like Skenes will strongly oppose salary caps, as they limit potential career earnings.

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler makes $42 million annually by himself. Are the Pirates going to give Skenes their entire payroll? That seems highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, the Yankees would provide Skenes the best opportunity to maximize earnings while competing for a World Series title. They can compensate him as the top pitcher in baseball while fielding a lineup full of lethal hitters.