Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller was one of the names most mentioned in trade rumors around last summer’s deadline.
Along with basically every top starting pitcher rumored to be dealt last July, Keller stayed right where he was, in the Pirates rotation.
Keller has been, if nothing else, a durable starter. He has made at least 29 starts each of the last four seasons, and 31 or more each of the last three. All told, he has posted a 4.15 ERA over that span, with good but not great walk and strikeout
rates. The K rate is a bit concerning, as it dropped from 25.5 percent in 2023 to 20.0 percent last year.
Keller was the Pirates’ second-round pick out of high school in Iowa in 2014. He was a Top 50 prospect four years in a row (2017-20). His MLB career hasn’t quite fulfilled that promise. At this stage of his career I’d call him a reliable, durable inning-eater. He has thrown at least 176.1 innings in each of the last three years.
Keller has three years remaining on a five-year, $77 million deal he signed with the Pirates before the 2024 season, one of the biggest contracts that team has ever given to anyone. There’s about $55.7 million remaining on the deal, an average of about $18.6 million per season.
I would imagine the Pirates would like someone to take that contract. The Cubs could certainly afford it and wouldn’t have to send much in terms of player return if they took all of it. Or, if the Pirates would take some of the deal, perhaps a better prospect or two could be sent to Pittsburgh.
Would you do it? If so, what sort of deal would you craft?
