Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is high-fived in the dugout after being relieved during the sixth inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Miami. Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — After winning the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award his first two seasons, Paul Skenes already has a different title in Year 3: recruiter.

As the Pirates assume a more aggressive posture this offseason, actively engaged in free agency and trades to try and improve their offense, sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday Skenes has taken on a unique role.

Skenes, 23, volunteered his services to general manager Ben Cherington to contact potential free-agent targets around MLB and pitch to them the idea of playing for the Pirates — acting on his belief Pittsburgh isn’t far from fielding a winner.

It’s just the latest step in Skenes’ leadership evolution, from generational prospect to the face of the Pirates and the best pitcher in baseball.

"His first two years have been unbelievable," Pirates manager Don Kelly said Monday at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, site of MLB’s winter meetings. "Just really excited about seeing his development and him continuing to get better, because he does. That's what he does every single day — shows up, shows up to win and shows up to get better himself."

Skenes’ actions further back his assertion from the night he won the Cy Young that, yes, he absolutely wants to win Pittsburgh, something he was forced to repeat because of a ridiculous report by NJ.com that he wanted out.

Skenes, most certainly, does not want out. He said that night — with plenty of passion — how he believed the Pirates can win and would do everything within his power to make that happen.

"The focus needs to be winning a World Series in Pittsburgh," Skenes said. "We haven't done it since 1979. ... That’s something we’re working to change from within the clubhouse. I know the organization is doing the same thing.

"That’s why I’m throwing, lifting and [getting ready] right now. That’s the goal. I have the Cy Young. What else do I have to accomplish in this game? A World Series championship. We just have to get everybody pushing in the same direction.

"I think it’s going to be better next year, but talk is cheap. We have to show up and do it. I have confidence we’re going to and that we’re going to get better. But there’s a long way to go. I’m excited for the challenge."

The challenge for the Pirates, right now, includes landing the proper players via trades and free agency.

It has already been an interesting offseason for the Pirates, who most recently made an offer to Kyle Schwarber via free agency. It didn’t land, as the top-of-market slugger decided to stay in Philadelphia.

But the Pirates have been extremely active on both the free agency and trade markets, willing to raise payroll and give up prospects in order to obtain the offensive help they need.

Skenes, who is a member of the MLB Players’ Association subcommittee, obviously has relationships around the game and universal respect among his peers. He's apparently willing to leverage that into informing prospective free agents what they can be a part of if they sign with the Pirates.

It backs what I’ve known about Skenes since he signed — that he genuinely loves Pittsburgh, for its humbleness, his teammates, the way he's able to live here and its blue-collar background, and that he sees the Pirates as a sleeping giant within MLB.

It squares with what Cherington outlined Monday, as well. That the Pirates’ pitch to free agents includes evidence that they’re not far away. That playing in Pittsburgh can be a lot of fun. And, if the Pirates win, it can be something transformative for all involved.

It’s how Skenes has thought about the Pirates since Day One, even though some seemed to doubt his intentions. Now, he’s doing more than just helping with his performance.

"We need to deliver for people who care about the Pirates," Cherington said. "Paul is important to that because he’s in a position to help us do that. With incredible respect to Paul, and I actually think he’d agree with this, is that we don’t want to do that because of Paul. We want to do that for our fans, and Paul just gives us a better chance to. That's how I think about it anyway."

Cherington was talking about Skenes as a pitcher, which is obviously hugely important.

Not surprising given what we’ve learned of Skenes off-the-field — he was the team's Roberto Clemente Award nominee this past season — but it could reach another level this offseason.