The All-Star Game is quickly becoming commonplace for Paul Skenes, who will represent the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third time in as many seasons. Yet a reporter found a way to baffle the ace during a media scrum.
As Skenes spoke to reporters at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, someone bizarrely cut him off mid-sentence. The "journalist" made an unprofessional prediction about the pitcher's next team.
"Hey, sorry. I just got the best interview of all time with Paul Skenes," the reporter said. "Future Yankee."
A seemingly confused Skenes needed some time to regain his train of thought after the interruption.
"Wow, she's super proud," another reporter quipped.
"Who's that?" Skenes asked.
Paul Skenes ... Future Yankee?
© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
As a star player on a low-payroll team, Skenes has drawn considerable speculation about his long-term future.
Pundits spent most of last season wondering whether the Pirates should shop their star ace, and the Yankees frequently surfaced as an intriguing trade partner. The right-hander instead won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award with a 1.97 ERA for Pittsburgh.
In November, NJ.com's Randy Miller claimed that Skenes told teammates he'd love to play for the Yankees. The former No. 1 overall pick quickly disputed the report.
"I don't know where that came from. The goal is to win," Skenes said last November. "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 nevertheless said in March that the Yankees are still interested in pursuing Skenes after unsuccessfully attempting to acquire him last year. The Pirates have played well enough to avoid another summer of trade chatter, entering the All-Star break with a 50-47 record.
That's despite Skenes not dominating like usual, registering a 3.57 ERA in 20 starts. Yet the Pirates can still snap an 11-year playoff drought, so any conversations about him heading to New York must wait.
Since Skenes has three more seasons until team control after 2026, the Yankees likely won't get a chance to put him in pinstripes too soon.
