The Pittsburgh Pirates were supposed to have one of the top rotations in baseball last season. While they were good, they were far from the best. Paul Skenes coming back to earth was a big reason for that, but another of the Bucs’ reasons was the season that veteran Mitch Keller had. He finished the year 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and just 87 strikeouts, and the 30-year-old righty then finished the year on the 60-day injured list with a grade 3 muscle strain.
Well, according to Pirates GM Ben
Cherington, Keller is now healthy and throwing. And the Bucs will be looking for a bounce back year from the veteran hurler. Cherington said:
“Bottom line, we need more from Mitch in 2027 to accomplish our goals,” Cherington said. “He knows that. That’s not putting pressure on anything. That’s just a fact.
“I’m saying that because I believe he can do that. We know the talent that’s there. We know the competitor that’s there. We have to do the work to help him. He has to do the work to put himself in that position to deliver more. … I’m excited about what Mitch will do for the Pirates in 2027.”
Keller is signed through 2028 for the Bucs and is scheduled to make $18 million next season and $20 million the year after that. My guess is the Bucs are hoping Keller responds this year with a better performance, then might deal him if so. Either way, this is a pivotal upcoming season for Keller. It will likely have a huge role in whether or not he stays in Pittsburgh and whether or not the Pirates faith in him will be rewarded in any way.
In addition, with Braxton Ashcraft coming into his own and the Seth Hernandez watch getting ready to begin proper, the sand is slowly slipping out of the hourglass for Keller. The upcoming season very well could tell the tale of the rest of his career. Either way, he is healthy, throwing, and reportedly ready for 2027.
