Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, has found himself at the center of trade rumors involving the New York Yankees. This attention is largely due to Livvy Dunne, his girlfriend, who recently attempted to purchase an apartment once owned by baseball legend Babe Ruth. While some might see this as a sign of Skenes' potential interest in playing for the Yankees, the pitcher himself has dismissed such speculation.
In an interview with Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Skenes was asked about the connection between Dunne's real estate endeavor and his own rumored interest in the Yankees. He responded by saying, 'That's probably reading a little deeper into it than what is true.' Skenes went on to explain that while he might be a Babe Ruth fan, the purchase of the apartment was not necessarily an indication of his own desires to play for the Yankees.
Dunne, who has been dating Skenes since their time as athletes at LSU, revealed that she was denied the purchase of Ruth's Upper West Side apartment by the building's co-op board. She said, 'Maybe they didn't want a public figure living there, but I was literally supposed to get the keys and that week they denied me.'
The rumors about Skenes and the Yankees first surfaced last offseason, when an anonymous Pittsburgh Pirates player was quoted as saying he had heard the star pitcher express his desire to play for New York. However, Skenes himself has consistently denied these rumors, stating that he is happy with the Pirates and has no plans to leave.
The Pirates are currently in the mix for a playoff spot in the NL, with a 52-49 record, and have no incentive to trade their star pitcher. In fact, Skenes is under team control with the Pirates through the 2029 season, making a trade in the near future highly unlikely.
While the idea of Skenes joining the Yankees might be intriguing to some, it is important to remember that he is currently under contract with the Pirates and has no immediate plans to change teams. The purchase of Babe Ruth's apartment by his girlfriend does not necessarily indicate his own desires to play for the Yankees. As Skenes himself has stated, it is 'probably reading a little deeper into it than what is true.'
In my opinion, the whole situation is a fascinating example of how rumors can take on a life of their own in the world of sports. While it is understandable that fans and media outlets might be interested in connecting the dots between Skenes' success and the Yankees' history, it is important to remember that these are just rumors and speculations. Until there is concrete evidence to suggest otherwise, it is best to take these stories with a grain of salt and enjoy the excitement of the game without getting too caught up in the hype.
