New York Yankees legend and recently enshrined Hall of Famer CC Sabathia recently made a bold prediction about Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes, hinting at a future that could see the young pitcher leaving Pittsburgh for bigger stages. Skenes, widely regarded as one of the most dominant starting pitchers in Major League Baseball, is a frontrunner for his first Cy Young Award this offseason, and Sabathia sees an even brighter future ahead for the young star.
In a recent interview with Rich Kleiman, Sabathia shared his thoughts on Skenes’ trajectory, drawing comparisons to another Pirates standout, Gerrit Cole. “I don’t think he’ll stay there,” Sabathia said of Skenes’ future with Pittsburgh. “He’ll end up being like Gerrit Cole. He’ll end up somewhere else, pitching in the playoffs in a pennant race down the stretch. [When] he becomes a free agent and who knows where he’ll end up. Maybe he ends up somewhere in New York, or you know, on the other coast in L.A. I don’t see him playing his whole career in Pittsburgh, but I don’t see them trading him anytime soon.”
Sabathia’s comments highlight the “inner savage” he sees in Skenes—a relentless, big-game mentality that thrives under pressure. Despite Skenes’ dominance every fifth day, the Pirates have struggled to build a competitive team around him, limiting their success in the postseason race. This lack of support could push Skenes to seek a team better positioned for playoff contention when he hits free agency in 2030.
While Sabathia name-dropped New York as a potential destination, both the Yankees and Mets are among the few MLB franchises with the financial muscle to afford a talent like Skenes. With several seasons of arbitration still ahead, Skenes remains under team control for now, but his future could see him headlining a playoff rotation for a big-market club.
Sabathia’s bold Hall of Fame call underscores the immense potential he sees in Skenes. If the young pitcher continues on his current trajectory, dominating hitters with his electric stuff and fearless demeanor, a plaque in Cooperstown could be in his future. For now, the MLB world eagerly awaits Skenes’ next steps, hoping to see the Pirates’ ace shine on the biggest stages in baseball.