Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller has been linked to both the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers in trade rumors. A new report suggests that if the clubs hope to land him, they will need to overpay for his services.
With 15 teams in the thick of the Wild Card race, there are few undisputed sellers heading into the July 31 MLB trade deadline. The Pirates are one of those few, and it puts them in a very beneficial position. Especially for a player like Mitch Keller, who has generated a lot of interest in recent weeks.
There will be a lot of competition for the one-time All-Star’s services. And according to New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman, it could create a costly bidding war this month among the various contenders looking to improve their rotation.
“The problem really is that the number of good starting pitchers who are going to be available is very, very limited. And the number of teams that need starting pitching is very, very high,” Heyman told Chicago radio show Mully & Haugh Show [h/t Marquee Sports]. “… I think that almost every contending team is going to go for a starting pitcher… The competition is keen, and you’re going to have to overpay to get a Mitch Keller. He may end up being the best starter out there.”
Heyman’s response was in reference to the Chicago Cubs pursuing the Pirates pitcher. However, the same idea holds true for the New Mets and Detroit Tigers as well. The trio of clubs has three of the seven best records in baseball right now. And they could all use help in their starting staff for the second half. And, hopefully, for deep runs in the playoffs.
Despite a 3-10 record, the 29-year-old is having a rock-solid season. He has posted a 3.64 ERA in 18 starts and has a good strikeout-to-walk ratio of 84 to 26 in 106.1 innings. He is signed for the next three seasons. Making $16 million in 2026, $18 million in 2027, and over $20 million in 2028 (via Spotrac).
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