Paul Skenes is basically the closest thing baseball has to a superhero right now. If you're asking what team is paul skenes on, the short and sweet answer is the Pittsburgh Pirates. He isn't just "on" the team; he is the undisputed engine of the entire franchise. After a 2025 season that saw him snag the NL Cy Young Award, he’s headed into the 2026 campaign as the face of baseball in the Steel City.
People keep wondering if he'll get traded. It makes sense why they ask. The Pirates aren't exactly known for spending like the Dodgers or the Yankees. But let’s be real: Pittsburgh isn't letting him go anywhere yet. General Manager Ben Cherington has been pretty vocal about it, essentially shutting down any trade rumors before they could even get off the ground. Skenes is under team control until 2030. That is a long time.
The Ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Skenes is a Pirate. He’s been a Pirate since he was the first overall pick in 2023. Honestly, his rise was almost too fast to believe. Most guys spend years riding buses in the minors. Skenes? He dominated LSU, won a College World Series, and was in the big leagues by May of 2024.
He wears number 30. He throws a "splinker"—that weird sinker-splitter hybrid that nobody can hit. If you watch a Pirates game in 2026, you’ll see him anchoring a rotation that finally looks like it might have some teeth.
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Why People Keep Asking About a Trade
It’s the "Pirate Tax." Fans of big-market teams like to look at small-market stars as if they're just waiting in a departure lounge. But the contract situation matters here. Since Skenes is still in his pre-arbitration years, he is incredibly cheap for how good he is. He won’t even be arbitration-eligible until 2027.
The Pirates have zero incentive to move him. In fact, they’ve been doing the opposite this offseason. They went out and signed Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year deal and traded for Brandon Lowe. They are actually trying to give Skenes some run support for once. In 2025, Skenes had a 1.97 ERA but only won 10 games because the offense was, well, not great.
Paul Skenes and Team USA
While he’s a Pirate through and through, you’re going to see him on a different team this spring. Skenes has already confirmed he’s joining Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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This is kind of a big deal. He’s going to be the ace of a staff that likely includes names like Gerrit Cole or Corbin Burnes. For Skenes, it’s a full-circle moment. Remember, he started his college career at the Air Force Academy. He’s got that military background, and he’s been very open about how much it means to him to wear "USA" across his chest.
What to Expect in 2026
So, what’s the vibe for this year? Skenes is 23 years old. He’s 6'6". He just shaved his signature mustache for a clean New Year's look, which had fans on social media losing their minds.
- The Rotation: He leads a group that includes Mitch Keller and Jared Jones.
- The Stats: He’s coming off a year where he threw 187.2 innings and struck out 216 batters.
- The Goal: Getting the Pirates to their first winning season since 2018.
He’s not just a pitcher; he’s an event. When he starts at PNC Park, the energy is different. It’s "Skenes Day."
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The Contract Reality
Unless the Pirates pull off a massive, record-breaking extension—which is rare for them—Skenes will be in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. He’s not a free agent until 2030. That means four more years of him dominating in black and gold before he even has the option to look elsewhere.
If you're a Pirates fan, you breathe easy. If you're a fan of any other team, you're probably just jealous.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to keep up with Skenes this season, here is what you should do:
- Check the Probable Starters: Use the MLB app to track the Pirates' rotation. Since they usually run a five-man rotation, you can predict Skenes' starts about a week in advance.
- Watch the WBC in March: This is the only time you'll see him play for someone other than Pittsburgh. It's high-stakes and the atmosphere is electric.
- Follow the Run Support: Keep an eye on the Pirates' new acquisitions like Ryan O'Hearn. If Pittsburgh can actually score 4 or 5 runs when Skenes starts, he could easily flirt with a 20-win season.