Yankees Reportedly Offer Massive Package for Pirates' Ace Paul Skenes

The Yankees are desperate to land the generational pitching talent, but it may take an unprecedented trade offer to pry him away from Pittsburgh.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 7:26pm

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The New York Yankees are reportedly willing to part with several of their top prospects, including outfielder George Lombard Jr., infielder Carlos Lagrange, and pitchers Elmer Rodríguez, Spencer Jones, and Ben Hess, in addition to their best young arm, Cam Schlittler, and another top prospect, Ben Rice, in order to acquire Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. However, even this massive trade package may not be enough to convince the Pirates to part with their prized 24-year-old hurler, who has three years of team control remaining on his rookie contract.

Why it matters

Skenes is widely regarded as one of the best young pitchers in baseball, with a dominant fastball, sharp breaking pitches, and impeccable control. The Yankees are desperate to add an ace-caliber starter to their rotation, and Skenes would immediately become their top option. However, the Pirates are understandably reluctant to trade away a generational talent like Skenes, even for a king's ransom in prospects.

The details

According to reports, the Yankees' proposed trade package for Skenes would include several of their top-ranked prospects, including outfielder George Lombard Jr., infielder Carlos Lagrange, and pitchers Elmer Rodríguez, Spencer Jones, and Ben Hess. The Yankees would also have to part with their best young arm, Cam Schlittler, as well as another top prospect, Ben Rice. This would be an unprecedented haul for a single player, but the Yankees are willing to go all-in to land Skenes and bolster their rotation.

  • The Yankees have been pursuing Skenes since the start of the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Paul Skenes

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skenes is widely regarded as one of the best young pitchers in baseball with three years of team control remaining on his rookie contract.

George Lombard Jr.

A top outfield prospect in the Yankees' farm system who is considered a potential future star.

Carlos Lagrange

A highly-touted infield prospect in the Yankees' system with a promising bat and defensive skills.

Cam Schlittler

The Yankees' best young pitching prospect, who has shown significant development and is now considered one of the team's most valuable trade chips.

Ben Rice

Another top-tier prospect in the Yankees' farm system that would likely need to be included in any potential trade package for Skenes.

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What they’re saying

“The Yankees are desperate to land Skenes, and they're willing to empty the farm system to make it happen. But even that may not be enough to pry him away from the Pirates.”

— Tyler Erzberger, Sports Writer

What’s next

If the Yankees and Pirates cannot agree on a trade package for Skenes, the Pirates may look to sign the young ace to a long-term contract extension to keep him in Pittsburgh. Alternatively, the Pirates could hold onto Skenes and wait for the bidding war to intensify at the trade deadline or next offseason, when more teams may be willing to part with a historic haul of prospects.

The takeaway

The Yankees' pursuit of Paul Skenes highlights the immense value of young, elite starting pitchers in today's MLB. Even a package of several top prospects may not be enough for the Pirates to part with their prized 24-year-old ace, underscoring how difficult it is for teams to acquire true difference-makers on the mound.