Overview
- General manager Ben Cherington said at the GM meetings that Paul Skenes “is going to be a Pirate in 2026,” rejecting trade chatter.
- Skenes told reporters he wants to win in Pittsburgh and said he aims to help change outside perceptions of the club.
- Trade speculation linking Skenes to the Yankees continues in media discussions and in reports citing unnamed sources, which the pitcher has publicly denied.
- Pittsburgh replaced pitching coach Oscar Marin with former Astros assistant Bill Murphy, who personally called Skenes to outline his commitment.
- The Cy Young winner posted a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 2025 as critics pointed to the Pirates’ bottom-tier payroll, a backdrop fueling skepticism about retention.