{"id":4256,"date":"2025-11-13T04:06:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T04:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/paul-skenes-nl-cy-young\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T04:06:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T04:06:35","slug":"paul-skenes-nl-cy-young","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/paul-skenes-nl-cy-young\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Skenes Wins NL Cy Young Award &#8211; MLB Trade Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates was named the National League Cy Young Award winner on the final ballot of the 2025 regular season, receiving all 30 first-place votes. The 2023 first overall pick followed his 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign with an MLB-best 1.97 ERA in his first full season and 216 strikeouts, edging Cristopher S\u00e1nchez and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The vote was unanimous, and Skenes becomes the third Pirates pitcher to win the Cy Young in franchise history. The announcement focuses attention on Skenes as the cornerstone of a Pittsburgh club aiming to end a decade-long postseason drought.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Unanimous selection: Skenes received all 30 first-place Cy Young votes from BBWAA writers, finishing ahead of Cristopher S\u00e1nchez and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.<\/li>\n<li>Dominant numbers: Skenes posted a 1.97 ERA in his first full MLB season and recorded 216 strikeouts, tied for second in the NL.<\/li>\n<li>Durability and workload: He ranked fourth in the NL with 187 2\/3 innings pitched and produced 20 quality starts, tied for third in the senior circuit.<\/li>\n<li>Advanced metrics support: Skenes led the NL with a 2.36 FIP and finished fifth with a 3.10 SIERA; FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference placed him essentially even with S\u00e1nchez for WAR.<\/li>\n<li>Franchise context: He is the Pirates\u2019 third Cy Young winner after Vernon Law (1960) and Doug Drabek (1990).<\/li>\n<li>Competition noted: S\u00e1nchez delivered a 2.50 ERA across 202 innings and 212 strikeouts; Yamamoto posted a 2.49 ERA with 201 strikeouts in 173 2\/3 innings.<\/li>\n<li>Team implications: General manager Ben Cherington indicated the team expects Skenes to remain with Pittsburgh in 2026; he is under club control for multiple seasons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Paul Skenes entered the major leagues as the 2023 first overall pick and made an immediate impact, winning American League Rookie of the Year honors in his first full exposure to big-league hitters. After a strong 23-start rookie showing with a 1.96 ERA, expectations were high for his first complete season. The Pirates, seeking to return to the postseason after a long absence, have leaned on Skenes as their staff ace and primary trade-chip deterrent.<\/p>\n<p>The Cy Young Award is voted on by the Baseball Writers&#8217; Association of America (BBWAA) after the regular season; postseason performance is not considered. This year\u2019s balloting featured established veterans and rising stars across the senior circuit, with Cristopher S\u00e1nchez (Philadelphia) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers) among the leading challengers. Voters considered traditional outputs and advanced metrics, and the unanimous nature of the result underscores how broadly Skenes\u2019 season impressed both rate- and counting-stat evaluators.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The BBWAA announced Skenes as the 2025 NL Cy Young winner after he topped the circuit in earned run average at 1.97 and tied for second in strikeouts with 216. Skenes completed 187 2\/3 innings \u2014 fourth-most in the league \u2014 while delivering 20 quality starts and ranking fifth in strikeout rate among pitchers with at least 100 innings. Those raw totals combined with elite underlying metrics to make him the clear choice on every ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Cristopher S\u00e1nchez finished second on every ballot and posted a breakthrough season of his own: 202 innings, a 2.50 ERA across 32 starts, and 212 strikeouts. S\u00e1nchez\u2019s consistency and workload were major factors in his runner-up finish. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had 201 strikeouts in 173 2\/3 innings and a 2.49 ERA, placed third on slightly more than half of ballots; his postseason heroics with the Dodgers did not factor into the regular-season award.<\/p>\n<p>The full voting distribution shows that Skenes and S\u00e1nchez appeared on every ballot, with Webb, Yamamoto, and Freddy Peralta splitting later-place votes. Logan Webb led the majors in strikeouts among those listed, and Webb\u2019s 10 third-place votes vaulted him to a fourth-place finish in the tally. The BBWAA-provided vote sheet confirms the unanimity of Skenes\u2019 selection and the narrower separations among the trailing candidates.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Skenes\u2019 unanimous win is notable because singular ballots rarely line up so completely across national writers. The combination of a sub-2.00 ERA for the full season (1.97), elite strikeout totals (216), and strong innings usage (187 2\/3) made his case unusually straightforward. Advanced measures \u2014 a 2.36 FIP and 3.10 SIERA \u2014 reinforce that his performance was not solely a product of defensive support or luck.<\/p>\n<p>For the Pirates, the award cements Skenes\u2019 status as the organization\u2019s foundational player. He will be the centerpiece of any strategy to end Pittsburgh\u2019s long postseason drought, both by his on-field impact and by altering trade-market calculations; other teams are less likely to pay a premium to pry away a young, award-winning ace under club control. The club\u2019s public stance that Skenes will remain a Pirate in 2026 reduces immediate trade chatter, though the possibility of deals later in his control window remains.<\/p>\n<p>At the league level, Skenes joins a very short list of starters who have combined sustained dominance with durability. Being the only starting pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA over the past two seasons (including his 1.96 as a rookie) places him in rarefied company and will likely accelerate conversations about long-term contracts and dynasty-era comparisons. The debate about the game\u2019s best pitcher now centers on Skenes and AL counterparts such as two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal; both are often discussed as No. 1 and No. 2 in various orders.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Pitcher<\/th>\n<th>ERA<\/th>\n<th>Innings<\/th>\n<th>Strikeouts<\/th>\n<th>FIP<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Paul Skenes<\/td>\n<td>1.97<\/td>\n<td>187.2<\/td>\n<td>216<\/td>\n<td>2.36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cristopher S\u00e1nchez<\/td>\n<td>2.50<\/td>\n<td>202.0<\/td>\n<td>212<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/td>\n<td>2.49<\/td>\n<td>173.2<\/td>\n<td>201<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Selected regular-season pitching lines for top NL Cy Young vote-getters (2025).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The table highlights why Skenes was the consensus choice: he combined an elite ERA with top-tier strikeout totals and strong innings. S\u00e1nchez\u2019s heavier workload (202 innings) and Yamamoto\u2019s high strikeout rate are also visible. FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference\u2019s WAR tallies essentially split Skenes and S\u00e1nchez, illustrating that counting stats and contextual metrics produced a close overall value race even as voters leaned toward Skenes\u2019 dominance in rate statistics.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>The BBWAA vote sheet and league observers framed the result as both a validation of Skenes\u2019 rapid rise and a milestone for the Pirates franchise. Reporters and analysts noted the rarity of a unanimous Cy Young selection.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Paul Skenes received all 30 first-place votes to win the 2025 NL Cy Young Award.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Baseball Writers&#8217; Association of America (BBWAA)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Pirates management underscored their commitment to building around Skenes; the club emphasized control and continuity as priorities for the coming seasons.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;He will remain a Pirate in 2026,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ben Cherington, Pittsburgh Pirates (general manager, paraphrased)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Analysts reacted to the framing of Skenes among baseball\u2019s elite, often pairing him with top AL arms in season-end rankings and award discussions.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Skenes and a small group of peers are now the clear top-of-rotation names across MLB for the immediate future.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>National baseball analyst (paraphrase)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>Explainer \/ Glossary<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Terms and methodology<\/summary>\n<p>ERA (earned run average) measures earned runs allowed per nine innings; FIP (fielding independent pitching) estimates performance based on outcomes a pitcher controls (strikeouts, walks, home runs). SIERA refines expected ERA by weighting batted-ball types and strikeout\/walk tendencies. WAR (wins above replacement) aggregates a player\u2019s overall value relative to a replacement-level player, with FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference using distinct but related calculation methods. The BBWAA Cy Young vote is conducted by writers after the regular season and excludes postseason play.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Long-term contract plans: there is no public confirmation of a multi-year extension for Skenes beyond his existing club control; extension talks, if any, are not publicly detailed.<\/li>\n<li>Trade prospects: while Pittsburgh\u2019s public statements downplay near-term trade chances, the possibility of a future trade during Skenes\u2019 control window has not been ruled out by the club or outside teams.<\/li>\n<li>Exact internal evaluations: teams\u2019 private medical and scouting reports that would affect long-term valuation of Skenes, S\u00e1nchez or Yamamoto are not publicly available and remain undisclosed to voters and media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Paul Skenes\u2019 unanimous NL Cy Young victory is both a personal milestone and a strategic pivot point for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His combination of sub-2.00 ERA across two seasons, high strikeout totals, and strong advanced metrics justifies the broad consensus among writers and places him among the sport\u2019s elite arms. For Pittsburgh, the award increases the club\u2019s leverage: Skenes is a foundational on-field asset whose presence reshapes roster planning and trade calculus.<\/p>\n<p>League-wide, the award sharpens conversations about pitching valuation and long-term contract risk for young aces. While S\u00e1nchez and Yamamoto posted excellent seasons and remain bona fide frontline starters, Skenes\u2019 unique blend of peak results and sustained excellence across consecutive seasons delivered a clear, unanimous choice. The coming offseason and 2026 campaign will reveal whether Skenes continues to ascend or if new challengers emerge to claim the top spot.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlbtraderumors.com\/2025\/11\/paul-skenes-wins-nl-cy-young-award.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MLB Trade Rumors \u2014 article covering the BBWAA vote and team reactions (media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bbwaa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baseball Writers&#8217; Association of America \u2014 official vote tallies and award information (official association)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fangraphs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FanGraphs \u2014 advanced metrics and WAR calculations (analytical media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Baseball-Reference \u2014 statistical database and season leaderboards (statistical reference)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates was named the National League Cy Young Award winner on the final ballot of the 2025 regular season, receiving all 30 first-place votes. The 2023 first overall pick followed his 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign with an MLB-best 1.97 ERA in his first full season and 216 &#8230; <a title=\"Paul Skenes Wins NL Cy Young Award &#8211; MLB Trade Rumors\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/paul-skenes-nl-cy-young\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Paul Skenes Wins NL Cy Young Award &#8211; MLB Trade Rumors\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Paul Skenes Wins NL Cy Young Award | Baseball Brief","rank_math_description":"Paul Skenes won the 2025 NL Cy Young unanimously (all 30 first-place votes) after a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts \u2014 a milestone for the Pirates and their postseason hopes.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Paul Skenes, NL Cy Young, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cristopher S\u00e1nchez, Yoshinobu Yamamoto","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}