The New York Yankees are backing themselves to eventually trade for Paul Skenes at the Pittsburgh Pirates, the most in-demand pitcher in baseball – thanks to a little help from his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne.
Cy Young winner Skenes, 23, has rapidly established himself as one of the finest pitchers in the game at Pittsburgh but the Pirates have continued to struggle, despite having one of baseball’s biggest talents on their roster.
To many, it seems like a matter of ‘when’ Skenes will be traded and now, according to a report in the New York Post, the Yankees are confident that Skenes wants to play for them one day.
The belief comes, in part, from Skenes’ hugely popular influencer girlfriend Dunne recently splashing out on a $2million apartment in Manhattan’s West Village, the report says. Before that, she viewed Babe Ruth’s old apartment, too.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean it would just be the Yankees that Skenes is drawn to – the New York Mets could push to recruit him too, if he really does want to be based in the Big Apple.
The Post adds that the Yankees tried to sound out the Pirates over a move for Skenes last July and if they get any encouragement in the future, they will quickly return to the negotiating table.
The New York Yankees are hopeful of eventually winning the race to trade for Paul Skenes
Skenes’ girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, recently bought a $2million apartment in Manhattan
The Yankees were apparently prepared to trade four big prospects last summer to bring Skenes to the Bronx, in Cam Schlittler, George Lombard Jr, Spencer Jones and Carlos Langrange.
Schlittler has since established himself as a starter for the Yankees, emerging towards the end of last season amid Gerrit Cole’s recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Last November, Skenes was rumored to have told his Pirates teammates that he wants to play for the Yankees, with reports emerging the day he was announced Cy Young winner.
But speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Skenes insisted that was untrue.
‘Rumors are rumors, I was frustrated for a little bit, but it doesn’t really matter,’ Skenes said.
‘I’ve had some time to think about it, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to speak… and clear the air over nothing, basically. It is what it is.’
Ironically, the report about the interest from the Yankees comes after Skenes had the worst day of his Major League career so far – in New York, against the Mets.
Skenes was taken out of the game by Pirates manager Don Kelly after just 37 pitches during which he conceded five runs, struck a hitter with a pitch and recorded two outs.
Skenes had a nightmare start in New York on Thursday, failing to complete an inning vs Mets
He wasn’t helped by center fielder Oneil Cruz, who made two errors in the outfield that allowed the Mets to get runs on the board. One was a misstep and then, on the next pitch, he lost the ball in the sun.
‘They did a really good job,’ Skenes said of the Mets lineup. ‘In the moment, maybe it was a little frustrating but I’ve just got to execute sooner.
‘You’ve gotta look at it for what it is, there wasn’t a ton of hard contact. A leadoff walk is not great. Some balls landed.’
Girlfriend Dunne was in the stands at Citi Field watching him endure a difficult start to 2026, with the Pirates eventually losing 11-7 to the Mets.
She has had an eventful few weeks of her own, landing her first acting job with the remake of Baywatch. She has been filming in Los Angeles alongside Brooks Nader for the show.
