The Pittsburgh Pirates made it clear all summer season that Paul Skenes wasn’t going anyplace, however that didn’t cease groups from making calls. In accordance with Jon Heyman of the New York Put up, the New York Yankees had been one of many golf equipment that pushed hardest to pry away the reigning NL Rookie of the 12 months and even dangled a few of their high younger expertise.
Heyman experiences that the Yankees had been keen to debate a bundle involving infielder George Lombard Jr. (their No. 1 prospect) and outfielder Spencer Jones (their No. 3 prospect). It’s unsure whether or not New York ever thought-about placing each gamers in the identical deal, however the mere dialog exhibits how extremely they valued Skenes. Nonetheless, if the Yankees thought they may headline a proposal with prospects ranked No. 24 (Lombard) and No. 87 (Jones) on MLB Pipeline’s High 100 and stroll away with the Pirates’ ace, that’s extra dream than actuality.
Skenes has been electrical in 2025. The 22-year-old right-hander owns a 1.92 ERA, a 2.52 FIP, and 203 strikeouts throughout 178 innings in 30 begins. He’s not simply the frontrunner for the NL Cy Younger; he’s the type of generational arm that franchises are constructed round, not dealt away. Pittsburgh is aware of it, too. For a group looking at its seventh consecutive shedding season and one other last-place end within the NL Central, the surest path again to relevance is surrounding Skenes with actual expertise, not cashing him in for lottery tickets.
To their credit score, the Yankees weren’t shy about swinging massive. Jones has 33 dwelling runs throughout Double-A and Triple-A this yr whereas posting a .925 OPS, and Lombard Jr. brings pace and persistence on the plate with 33 steals and a .368 OBP. Each undertaking as future contributors within the Bronx. However let’s be sincere: a pair of promising prospects isn’t transferring the needle for a pitcher who may anchor the Pirates’ rotation for the following decade.
The Yankees deserve credit score for attempting. The Pirates deserve credit score for laughing it off. Skenes isn’t simply untouchable. He’s the uncommon participant who makes a whole franchise rethink its future.
