The trophy collections of Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are expanding rapidly. The next phase in the journey of baseball’s top two pitchers involves winning, ideally with their current teams.
Skenes, aged 23, completed his meteoric ascent to stardom by securing the National League Cy Young Award. The Pittsburgh Pirates standout earned a unanimous selection by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Shortly after, Skubal, anchoring the Detroit Tigers, clinched his second consecutive American League pitching accolade.
While both pitchers appreciate the accolades, they are eager for their teams to excel in 2026. However, uncertainties loom over their futures with their current clubs.
Skubal, 28, faces the final year of club control in Detroit. While he desires to continue with the Tigers, the possibility of a trade remains due to the significant salary increase he may demand as a free agent. Similarly, Skenes, under team control for the foreseeable future, rebutted rumors of a desire to leave Pittsburgh, emphasizing his commitment to the team’s success.
Despite Pittsburgh’s struggles in the 2025 season, Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. Leading the majors in ERA and strikeouts during his first full season, he managed to avoid a losing record with late-season support from the team’s offense.
Both Skenes and Skubal were All-Star Game starters and claimed Cy Young Awards this year, a rare feat in baseball history. The MVP awards for both leagues are set to be announced soon, with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge as frontrunners in the NL and AL, respectively.