Overview
- Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters gave Skenes all 30 first-place votes after a season featuring a 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts and a 0.95 WHIP over 187⅔ innings.
- Skenes dismissed an NJ Advance Media report quoting an anonymous teammate about a desire to join the Yankees, saying, "I'm on the Pirates. My goal is to win with the Pirates."
- Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told reporters at the GM meetings that "Paul Skenes is going to be a Pirate in 2026," reinforcing no intention to trade the ace this offseason.
- Skenes is arbitration-eligible beginning in 2027 and remains under club control through 2029, a timeline that shapes near-term decisions even as long-term payroll questions persist.
- The Cy Young moment drew wide social-media attention, including video of Skenes celebrating with longtime partner Olivia Dunne that was shared by major outlets.