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Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates jogs to the mound prior to the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees are beginning their 2026 MLB season this evening with a matchup against the San Francisco Giants.
During the MLB offseason, the Yankees opted against an aggressive approach. Brian Cashman opted to basically run it back with the 2025 roster.
Fans didn’t like that approach very much. They wanted to see New York go all-out to pursue a World Series run in 2026. Despite the frustration, the Yankees are still one of the top potential contenders in the American League.
Cashman might very well be focusing on the future as well. There are some avenues New York could explore down the road if it maintains some financial flexibility.
One of those potential avenues could include pursuing current Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
New York Yankees Land Eye-Opening Paul Skenes Prediction
BetMGM has released their projections for the best pitchers in baseball in five years. They had Skenes at the top of their list, but they have him playing for the Yankees instead of the Pirates.
New York has been heavily linked as a potential suitor to steal Skenes away from Pittsburgh. That didn’t happen this offseason, but the Yankees will almost certainly remain one of the top potential threats for the Pirates moving forward.
Skenes is one of the biggest names in baseball. He has also surged in popularity with the fans.
He is a bigger name than those who usually stick around in Pittsburgh. Playing in a big market would be fitting for him. There is no bigger market than New York.
Paul Skenes Has Been Insanely Good So Far
At 23 years old, Skenes has dominated Major League Baseball in his first two years.
Throughout his two seasons, Skenes has made 55 total starts. He has compiled a 21-13 record to go along with a 1.96 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, a 5.2 K/BB ratio, and 320.2 innings pitched.
Needless to say, those numbers are insane. Skenes has been pitching at a level that most pitchers can only dream of and he has shown no signs of slowing down.
Entering the 2026 MLB season, the Pirates have made an effort to improve around Skenes. They brought in pieces like slugger Ryan O’hearn, second baseman Brandon Lowe, left-hander Mason Montgomery, and others.
While it’s clear that Pittsburgh is making an effort to keep Skenes long-term, the Yankees will remain lurking in the shadows waiting for a chance to steal him. BetMGM clearly thinks that they will succeed in that goal.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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