NEW YORK – Forget box scores and trade rumors. The latest Yankees-related frenzy isn’t happening on the diamond or in the front office. It’s exploding across social media platforms, fueled by a series of TikToks posted by Olivia Dunne, the hugely popular LSU gymnast and influencer who happens to be dating Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes.
The reason? Dunne’s posts documenting an apartment hunt in New York City have sent Yankees fans into a speculative tizzy, dreaming of a future where Skenes dons pinstripes.
The spark: Dunne’s NYC apartment hunt
The firestorm ignited on July 27th. Dunne, boasting over 13 million TikTok followers, shared videos chronicling a trip to New York City. The content prominently featured tours of luxury Manhattan apartments. While Dunne framed the trip as potentially related to her own burgeoning career opportunities and NIL deals in the fashion and media capital, the location and timing struck a nerve with the Yankees faithful.
Crucially, the Pirates are scheduled to face the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in mid-August. For many fans online, Dunne’s real estate exploration wasn’t just about her. It became potential reconnaissance for her superstar pitcher boyfriend.
Notably, Dunne recently claimed that she was refused to bid for an apartment previously owned by Yankees legend Babe Ruth.
Yankees fan frenzy goes viral
Social media, particularly Twitter (X) and Yankees-focused forums, erupted. Memes picturing Skenes in pinstripes flooded timelines. Comments ranged from hopeful to downright convinced:
“Olivia Dunne apartment hunting in NYC right before Skenes pitches at Yankee Stadium? Coincidence? I THINK NOT! Welcome to the Bronx, Paul! #Yankees”
“Skenes to NYC confirmed? Dunne doesn’t just look at apartments for fun. This is happening. #MLB”
“The Yankees need an ace. Skenes is an ace. His GF is looking at NYC real estate. Connect the dots, people! #YankeesTwitter”
“Dunne touring UES apartments? Skenes follows Judge & Cole on IG?
Connect. The. Dots.
Cashman working his magic 🙏”“BREAKDOWN:
✅ Dunne’s TikTok shows 3 NYC luxury buildings
✅ Pirates @ Yankees Aug 14-17
✅ Skenes projected to start Aug 16
Coincidence? MLB Twitter says NO.”“Can we just get Paul on the Yankees and u can stay too ig.”
“This is a sign guys, Paul is going to the Yankees.”
“Paul Skenes to the Yankees.”
The connection felt tantalizingly simple for a fanbase perpetually dreaming of the next big superstar acquisition: star pitcher + girlfriend looking at NYC apartments + imminent series in the Bronx = Future Yankee.
Skenes: Dream fit for Yankees
The fan excitement isn’t baseless when considering on-field needs. Paul Skenes, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, has taken Major League Baseball by storm in his rookie 2025 season. He possesses a rare combination of triple-digit fastball velocity, a devastating splitter, and sharp command.
The Yankees’ rotation, while solid, lacks a definitive, overpowering ace like Skenes projects to be. Gerrit Cole remains elite but is entering his mid-30s. Carlos Rodón has been inconsistent. Adding a young, controllable force like Skenes would instantly transform the staff.
Unlike rental players at the trade deadline, Skenes is under team control for six full seasons after 2025. He represents the kind of franchise cornerstone the Yankees covet.
Beyond his arm, Skenes, amplified by his relationship with Dunne, brings immense marketability and star power – something the Yankees franchise always embraces.
“The Yankees aren’t just looking for pitchers; they’re looking for generational talents,” noted MLB analyst Jeff Passan. “Skenes fits that mold perfectly. He’s the type of arm every team dreams of building around for the next decade.” Acquiring such a talent, however, is exceedingly difficult.
The Pirates’ stance: Not for sale
Here’s where Yankee fan dreams collide with reality. The Pittsburgh Pirates are not looking to trade Paul Skenes. Not now. Not in the foreseeable future.
Skenes is the absolute centerpiece of the Pirates’ rebuilding efforts. General Manager Ben Cherington has repeatedly stated Skenes is “untouchable” in trade talks.
Even if the Pirates were tempted (which they aren’t), the cost to acquire Skenes would be astronomical. It would likely require gutting the Yankees’ entire top-tier farm system – names like Spencer Jones, Jasson Domínguez (again), and Chase Hampton – plus established major league talent.
“There’s no package the Yankees could realistically offer that would make Pittsburgh even pick up the phone for Skenes right now,” a National League executive told ESPN on background.
With Skenes under cheap team control for years, the Pirates have zero financial pressure to move him. They are building around him.
Dunne and Skenes: Staying silent
Amidst the social media storm, both Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes have remained silent on the speculation. Dunne hasn’t addressed the Yankees rumors specifically in her follow-up content. Skenes, focused on his rookie season and the upcoming series, has not commented on his girlfriend’s NYC trip or the resulting fan theories. Their silence has only allowed the rumors to persist.
While the confluence of Dunne’s NYC apartment hunt and the Pirates’ impending visit makes for irresistible fan fiction, baseball operations don’t work via social media clues or influencer real estate tours. The Pirates hold all the cards with Skenes, and they are playing a long game. He is their future.
The Yankees, for their part, are almost certainly not basing their long-term pitching plans on TikTok videos. General Manager Brian Cashman operates through traditional scouting, analytics, and intense trade negotiations. Skenes, while a perfect theoretical fit, is currently unattainable.
For now, Yankees fans buzzing about Olivia Dunne’s apartment tours are engaging in pure, unadulterated speculation. While Paul Skenes represents the archetype of pitcher the Yankees crave, the Pittsburgh Pirates have no intention of making that dream a reality anytime soon. The social media firestorm is a testament to Skenes’ burgeoning stardom, Dunne’s massive platform, and the perpetual hope of Yankees fans seeking the next big thing.
When Skenes takes the mound at Yankee Stadium in August, the cheers (or boos) will be loud. But barring an unforeseen, seismic shift in Pittsburgh’s plans years down the line, those cheers won’t be for him as a home player. The apartment hunt, for now, remains Olivia Dunne’s story, not a covert Yankees recruitment mission.
What do you think?
