Lead: Paul Skenes, 23, was named the National League Cy Young Award winner unanimously Wednesday after a dominant 2025 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Detroit left-hander Tarik Skubal, 28, secured his second consecutive American League Cy Young. Both pitchers earned the top honor from separate Baseball Writers’ Association of America panels, but each emphasized team goals over individual prizes as they head into 2026. Skenes led the majors with a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 187 1/3 innings; Skubal posted a 2.21 ERA with 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings and continued strong into the postseason. Despite the accolades, both pitchers and their clubs face roster and contract questions that could shape the off-season and next season’s title chances.
Key Takeaways
- Paul Skenes (age 23) was the unanimous NL Cy Young winner in 2025, leading MLB with a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 187 1/3 innings.
- Skenes finished the season 10-10 after winning three of his last four decisions; he remains under team control for the rest of the decade.
- Tarik Skubal (age 28) won the AL Cy Young for the second straight year, posting a 13-6 record, a 2.21 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings.
- Skubal went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three 2025 playoff starts; the Tigers beat Cleveland in the wild-card round but were eliminated by Seattle in the Division Series.
- Skubal received 26 first-place BBWAA votes in the AL; Garrett Crochet received four first-place votes and finished second.
- Cristopher Sánchez was the runner-up in the NL ballot; Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished third in the NL voting.
- Both Skenes and Skubal were All-Star Game starters in 2025; the only other season when both All-Star starters won Cy Youngs was 2001 (Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens).
Background
Paul Skenes was the first overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft after standout collegiate performances at Air Force and LSU. He burst onto the major-league scene quickly, winning Rookie of the Year in his first season and following with a Cy Young in 2025—making him the first pitcher since Dwight Gooden in the mid-1980s to achieve that back-to-back honor. Pittsburgh as a franchise finished last in the NL Central in 2025, and while Skenes’ individual numbers were elite, the club’s offense struggled to provide consistent run support. Skenes has publicly stated his desire to win in Pittsburgh, and the organization faces the challenge of building around its young ace amid roster construction limits.
Tarik Skubal’s rise was less sudden but just as consequential for Detroit. The 28-year-old lefty took a major leap in 2024, earning a unanimous AL Cy Young and the pitching Triple Crown, then reinforced his status by repeating in 2025. The Tigers experienced a roller-coaster season, surrendering a 15 1/2-game lead in the AL Central only to regroup for a wild-card victory over Cleveland. Skubal’s combination of high strikeout totals and postseason poise has made him the staff’s centerpiece even as the team weighs payroll and roster strategies for the near future.
Main Event
Skenes’ 2025 campaign was defined by overpowering stuff and advanced control: he led the majors in ERA at 1.97 and posted 216 strikeouts across 187 1/3 innings. Despite the dominance, Pittsburgh’s offense left him with a .500 win-loss mark (10-10); Skenes won three of his final four decisions to finish the season on a positive note. The BBWAA panel awarded him every first-place ballot in the National League, with Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez collecting every second-place vote and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers third. After vote totals were announced, Skenes addressed a published report suggesting he had told teammates he wanted to leave Pittsburgh, calling that account inaccurate and reiterating he wants to win in Pittsburgh.
Skubal’s award was the product of sustained excellence: he was 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA and a league-leading 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings during the regular season. In the postseason he made three starts, going 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA, and his 14-strikeout outing helped Detroit advance past Cleveland in the wild-card series. The Tigers fell to Seattle in the Division Series, ending Detroit’s October run, and Skubal said the playoff loss underscored that individual awards matter less than team championships. Skubal sits in the final year of club control and acknowledged both a preference to remain a Tiger and awareness that economic realities could prompt the club to trade him before free agency.
Voting details highlighted other storylines: Garrett Crochet finished second in the AL balloting after leading the league in innings (205 1/3) and strikeouts (255), and Hunter Brown’s third-place finish earned Houston an extra draft pick via the prospect-promotion incentive. In the NL, Skenes’ unanimous selection left Sánchez as the runner-up and Yamamoto third. The awards announcement arrived on back-to-back nights with both leagues’ Cy Youngs decided by separate BBWAA panels; NL and AL MVP voting was scheduled to follow.
Analysis & Implications
Individually, both pitchers have entered baseball’s elite tier: Skenes’ combination of youth, durability in his first full season and pristine ERA projects him as a multi-year frontline starter, while Skubal’s consecutive Cy Youngs cement his status as a true staff anchor. For their teams, however, the calculus is different. Pittsburgh must decide how aggressively to invest around a young ace while remaining patient through a rebuilding arc; Skenes’ team-control window gives the Pirates leverage but also a responsibility to add complementary pieces. Detroit faces a shorter timeline with Skubal entering the final year of team control—management must weigh keeping its proven starter versus maximizing return if a trade becomes the prudent financial move.
On the market side, Skubal’s pending free-agent status creates immediate speculation about a big contract or a pre-arbitration trade, whereas Skenes’ long-term control makes him less likely to hit free agency soon. That difference shifts how front offices negotiate offers and construct rosters: teams with championship windows may prefer acquiring a controllable star like Skenes, while contenders unsure of long-term payroll flexibility might consider flipping Skubal before he reaches open market value. From a competitive-balance perspective, both outcomes—retain or trade—carry substantial ripple effects across division races and trade-deadline valuations in 2026.
From a historical viewpoint, Skubal joining a short list of back-to-back winners places him among Hall of Famers and underscores the rarity of repeat dominance in the modern era. Skenes’ rapid ascent from Rookie of the Year to Cy Young in consecutive seasons is also historically notable and raises questions about pitcher workload management, long-term health, and how teams balance development with immediate success.
Comparison & Data
| Stat (2025) | Paul Skenes (NL) | Tarik Skubal (AL) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 23 | 28 |
| Wins-Losses | 10-10 | 13-6 |
| ERA | 1.97 | 2.21 |
| Strikeouts | 216 | 240 |
| Innings | 187 1/3 | 195 1/3 |
The table highlights both pitchers’ strengths: Skenes led in ERA while Skubal logged a higher strikeout total and slightly more innings. Context matters—Skenes achieved his marks in his first full big-league season and played for a Pirates team that finished last in the NL Central, which suppressed his win total. Skubal’s workload and postseason appearances reflect Detroit’s deeper October run, though the Tigers ultimately fell short in the Division Series. These comparative metrics will factor into contract valuation, trade discussions and team-building priorities heading into 2026.
Reactions & Quotes
“I don’t know where that came from. The goal is to win and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh.”
Paul Skenes
Shortly after vote results, Skenes denied reports he had told teammates he wanted to leave Pittsburgh, emphasizing his desire to win with the Pirates despite outside narratives about his future.
“Ending the season on a loss is not a fun thing. You can be proud of what we accomplished, but you want to end the season with a win.”
Tarik Skubal
Skubal framed individual honors as secondary to team goals, repeatedly stating he would trade personal awards for a World Series and signaling his focus remains on helping Detroit win in October.
“I’ve given everything I have to this organization. I want to be a Tiger for a very, very long time.”
Tarik Skubal
At the same time, Skubal acknowledged the practical economics of baseball—his final year of club control could convert into a high-profile contract or prompt organizational decisions based on payroll and competitive window.
Unconfirmed
- The report that Skenes told teammates he wants to leave Pittsburgh has been disputed by Skenes; the exact origin and sourcing of that report remain unclear.
- Any concrete trade plans for Tarik Skubal are speculative; while economics make a trade possible, Detroit has not announced a decision to move him.
- Future contract figures for either pitcher on the open market are projections; precise offers and signings are not yet confirmed.
Bottom Line
Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal now occupy the top tier of MLB pitchers, each carrying different contractual and team-building implications. Skenes’ unanimous Cy Young at 23 projects a long-term franchise cornerstone for Pittsburgh if the club elects to build around him during its control window. Skubal’s back-to-back triumphs make him a prized asset for Detroit, but his final year of control forces the Tigers to confront immediate decisions about retention versus market value.
For fans and front offices alike, the awards mark both celebration and a timetable. Skenes gives Pittsburgh hope for sustained excellence if the organization invests wisely; Skubal gives Detroit a chance to contend now but also a looming financial decision that could reshape the Tigers or provide a sizable return in a trade. Regardless of the next moves, both pitchers have altered short-term competitive landscapes and will be central figures in 2026 discussions.
Sources
- AP News — national news agency report detailing award voting and quotes.
- MLB.com — official MLB coverage and statistics (league source).
- Baseball-Reference — statistical database for season and career metrics (research/archival).