Skubal, who turns 29 later this month, went 13-6 with a league leading 2.21 ERA striking out 241 batters in 195.1 innings while walking only 33. A good argument could be made that Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, who finished runner up in AL Cy Young balloting, would have been the better choice than the Tigers' southpaw.
After spending 2024 with the Chicago White Sox, the worst team in modern MLB history, Crochet went 18-5 with a 2.59 fanning a league leading 255 batters in 205.1 innings pitched against only 46 walks. On a personal note, I saw Crochet pitch at Fenway back in August and he was outstanding against the Miami Marlins. Unfortunately, the Red Sox bullpen could not hold his lead and Crochet ended up with a no-decision.
Still, Skubal did have an exceptional campaign in 2025. While Skubal had fewer wins than he did a year ago, his ERA was lower and strikeouts were up. While I would have cast my vote for Crochet if I were a BBWAA member, I don't think Skubal winning again is an injustice.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-ol Skenes, won the NL Cy Young unanimously. In only his second MLB season, the number one pick in the 2024 MLB Draft led the league with a 1.97 ERA striking out 216 batters against 42 walks in 187.2 innings pitched despite having a 10-10 record. Yet it is important to keep in mind that in all 10 of Skenes; losses, the Pirates never scored more than 3 runs and were shutout on four of those occasions.
There is an open question as to whether Skubal and Skenes will be with their respective teams at this time a year from now.
Skubal is a free agent after the 2026 season. The Tigers have tried to extend Skubal without success thus far. The New York Mets, who spectacularly missed this year's post-season, are said to be in hot pursuit of Skubal. But the Tigers have come off back-to-back post-season appearances in no small part due to Skubal. If the Tigers have a chance to win their first World Series since 1984, I very much doubt Detroit will part ways with Skubal. The only way I can see this changing is if the Tigers are out of contention by the All-Star Break.
Unlike the Tigers, however, the Pirates have been a moribund franchise under Bob Nutting with fans clamoring for him to sell the team. The team actually tried to trade Skenes to the New York Yankees during the trading deadline in July without success despite Skenes' apparent desire to come to the Big Apple. For his part, Bucs GM Ben Cherington insists that Skenes isn't going anywhere in 2026 and that the team plans to spend money for free agents.
I suspect that Pirates fans will believe this when they see it. I'm also inclined to think prospective free agents might share a similar cynicism regarding Pittsburgh and the team might not be able to lure new players despite promises to do so. It is also worth remembering that Cherington said Skenes will be a Pirate in 2026. But what about 2027 and beyond? Skenes isn't actually eligible for free agency until after the 2029 season. The fact that Cherington can't say that Skenes will be a Buc for the rest of the decade is quite telling indeed.
But at least for the moment the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates have the two best pitchers in MLB.
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