With just two seasons in MLB, Paul Skenes has more than enough credentials to be considered the best pitcher on the planet, and it’s hard to find anyone who would disagree. The former LSU star is an elite pitcher at just 23 years old, though unfortunately, he plays for a team that might not bring him close to winning anytime soon.
In his debut campaign, he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2024, posting a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 23 starts (133 innings pitched).
This season, little has changed as he’s continued his impressive form, with a 2.03 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 31 starts (181.2 innings pitched), making him the leading candidate for the 2025 NL Cy Young Award, especially since Zack Wheeler, another favorite, was sidelined by injury. Combined, his 2.00 ERA over his first two seasons is the lowest in MLB history for a pitcher in their first 54 games.
He’s an elite pitcher on a team that may struggle to compete for a title, and this has sparked speculation about whether the pitcher, who earns $875,000 in 2025 and won’t be an unrestricted free agent until after 2029, would want to stay in Pittsburgh long-term.
Before the trade deadline, several teams contacted the franchise to inquire about his availability, but the response was a firm no.
Will Skenes end up with the Mets?
At least that’s what Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report predicts, naming several teams where Skenes could land:
“For his part, any team would be better than Pittsburgh if Skenes values winning games and raising his profile. It’s no surprise that the New York Yankees are interested, and you can also imagine him ending up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, or Chicago Cubs,” Rymer wrote.
For now, it seems Skenes will stay in Pittsburgh, but anything could happen in the upcoming offseason, where the Mets or another team might make an offer.
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