The Pittsburgh Pirates and the rest of the MLB are on the hot stove to try and figure out how to improve their teams for the upcoming season.
The Pirates need some help in the field while the San Diego
Padres could benefit from adding a starting pitcher. That’s why Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter predicts a trade between the two NL clubs, sending Mitch Keller to San Diego and Jake Cronenworth to Pittsburgh.
“The San Diego Padres have to do something to replace Dylan Cease, Michael King and the injured Yu Darvish in their starting rotation, and with a ton of long-term money on the books, they might prefer the trade market and shorter commitments to address that need,” Reuter wrote.
“Mitch Keller will likely come at a slightly lower acquisition cost than the other trade candidates mentioned in this article, as he is more of a middle-of-the-rotation option who is capable of more.
“Would a Jake Cronenworth-for-Keller swap appeal to a Pirates team in serious need of offensive help? That would likely just be the foundation of a larger trade that also involves prospects and cash, but it could make sense as a basic outline.”
Keller, who turns 30 in April, is under team control for the next three seasons, so any trade involving him would come at a hefty price. Cronenworth, a two-time All-Star, would certainly fit the bill.
While the 31-year-old infielder isn’t in his prime anymore, the Pirates could benefit from bringing him on board as their everyday shortstop or second baseman next season.
