Paul Skenes refutes ridiculous Yankees rumor with emphatic statement after Cy Young win

Paul Skenes didn’t just win the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday; he won back a piece of faith that Pittsburgh Pirates fans have been missing for years.

Earlier that day, Skenes had been the subject of rumors fueled by reports that he was eager to move on from Pittsburgh and play for the New York Yankees. Speaking with reporters after his Cy Young win, however, he quickly denied those rumors –– in no uncertain terms.

"I don't know where that came from," Skenes told reporters Wednesday night. "The goal is to win, and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh."

Skenes said he saw the report –– in which an anonymous Pirates player is quoted as saying that the star right-hander is "hoping for a trade" out of Pittsburgh –– but he used his Cy Young win as an opportunity to put a swift end to any speculation.

"The way that fans see us outside of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh is not supposed to win," Skenes said. "There are 29 fan bases that expect us to lose. I want to be a part of the 26 guys that change that."

Skenes’ firm and heartfelt denial of the rumor was a massive emotional moment for the Pirates fanbase. By saying that he wants to win, and he wants to win in Pittsburgh –– on the biggest night of his career, no less –– the 23-year-old ace made it clear he’s not itching for an exit.

Skenes' statement cut directly against decades of cynicism that every great Pirate eventually leaves. It was a rare, defiant reassurance from a generational talent who actually wants to plant a flag in Pittsburgh.

Paul Skenes denying Yankees rumor following Cy Young win reinforces commitment to winning in Pittsburgh

Pirates fans are conditioned to flinch whenever a superstar’s name gets linked to a big-market team. They’ve lived through it, from Gerrit Cole to Andrew McCutchen’s trade to the constant churn of “small-market reality.”

Skenes’ words weren’t just damage control; they were a sign of leadership. He could’ve brushed off the rumor with a half-answer and fueled months of speculation. Instead, he reframed the conversation and put the focus back on winning in Pittsburgh: “There are 29 fan bases that expect us to lose. I want to be part of the 26 guys that change that.”

That pushback subtly tells fans: I see what they’re saying about this team — and I’m not buying it. For a fanbase that’s long been told its heroes will always leave, hearing the Cy Young winner reject that narrative is cathartic.

For Pirates fans, this hits deeper than just baseball. It’s about dignity. They’ve watched front offices and ownership undercut momentum before. Skenes’ message gives them something real to hold onto — not just hope in talent, but belief in intent.

If he’s as serious about changing the city’s perception as his words suggest, then Skenes' Cy Young isn’t just a personal award — it’s a declaration that maybe, finally, the Pirates have a player who won’t run from Pittsburgh’s history, but embrace fixing it.