Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal have cemented their status as baseball's top pitchers, each winning a Cy Young Award. Skenes, the Pirates' ace, was a unanimous NL choice, while Skubal of the Tigers secured his second consecutive AL award. Despite their individual triumphs, both pitchers face uncertain futures regarding their long-term commitment to their current teams.
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, 23, unanimously captured the National League Cy Young Award, capping a rapid ascent that saw him win Rookie of the Year and then the Cy Young in consecutive seasons, a feat last accomplished by Dwight Gooden. Minutes earlier, Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal, 28, won his second straight American League Cy Young, anchoring his team's rotation. While both pitchers expressed a desire to win with their current clubs, their long-term tenures are uncertain. Skubal is entering his final year of club control and could be traded due to potential free agency demands, despite his wish to remain a Tiger. Skenes, under team control for the rest of the decade, denied rumors he wants to leave, stating his goal is to win in Pittsburgh. Skenes led the majors with a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 187 1/3 innings, finishing 10-10 for the last-place Pirates. Skubal posted a 13-6 record with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings during the regular season, leading the Tigers to the playoffs where they were eliminated in the Division Series after squandering a significant division lead. Skubal's consecutive Cy Youngs make him the 12th hurler to achieve this, and the first AL pitcher since Pedro Martínez (1999-2000). Both Skenes and Skubal started this year's All-Star Game, a rare occurrence for Cy Young winners last seen in 2001 with Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. Despite their individual accolades, both prioritize team success, with Skubal stating he'd gladly trade a Cy Young for a World Series.
