Pittsburgh Pirates’ veteran right-hander Mitch Keller may be on the way out this trade deadline. Keller has pitched rather poorly this year, with a 5.14 ERA, 4.48 FIP, and 1.33 WHIP. The bottom-line results aren’t even the most concerning part of his game. Keller’s fastball velocity has declined every season from a 2023 peak of 95.2 MPH. He is now sitting 93.4 MPH with his four-seamer. His Stuff+ has gone from 107 to 100 in 2024, 94 last season, and down to 92 this year. However, the Pirates can still get out from under his remaining two years and just over $29 million.
Teams That Make the Most Sense in a Mitch Keller Trade
There is certainly hope the Pirates can move Keller’s remaining contract. The Pirates pulled off a similar salary dump during last year’s trade deadline, in which they sent Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for two prospects. That trade has worked out tremendously in the Pirates’ favor, and Hayes was arguably an even riskier player than Keller, given that he was owed more guaranteed money over more years and has back health concerns. Keller is still a guaranteed 30+ start pitcher.
Three things make a Keller salary dump work. The first is the other team needs someone who can soak up innings and starts. Keller’s reliability is still his biggest strength, and teams are willing to pay for innings eaters. The second thing is that the team needs to have payroll space. Keller may not be overly expensive for a #5-type starter, but a team probably doesn’t want to spend a ton of money on one either. The last thing is the team is rebuilding or retooling. Not only does Keller help that team absorb innings while they’re rebuilding/retooling, but they have the opportunity to give Keller a chance to rebound, and can run a lower payroll while rebuilding, so they have the space to pay Keller.
If The Pirates Unload Mitch Keller’s Remaining Salary, These Teams Make The Most Sense
New York Mets
The New York Mets’ season has not gone the way they hoped. After a late-season collapse in 2025, they’ve followed that up by starting 2026 with a 40-54 record. While superstar outfielder Juan Soto, along with rookies like A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, and Christian Scott, have performed well, many of their veterans have not provided stability. They are going to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline, and look to build for the future.
The Mets’ rotation depth chart is looking very thin. Clay Holmes went on the IL for the rest of the season after he suffered a fractured fibula on a line drive that hit his leg. Kodai Senga has pitched extremely poorly to the point he was moved to the bullpen. Freddy Peralta is likely getting traded at the deadline. The Mets have luckily Christian Scott back and pitching well, and McLean is one of the top rookie pitchers this year, but they’re going to need someone they can rely on to take the ball every four or five days.
The Mets obviously have the payroll space to take on Keller’s contract. They have run one of the highest payrolls in the entire sport year after year since Steve Cohen took over majority ownership of the team. Shedding Peralta’s contract will also open the door for them to add more to the payroll.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants finished with a .500 record last season and likely hoped to perform better in 2026. With a full season from Rafael Devers and rookie Bryce Eldridge, trading for prospect Drew Gilbert during last year’s trade deadline, and signing Luis Arraez, they were hoping for something better than their 39-54 record. They’re barely staying ahead of the Colorado Rockies in the standings this season.
Their rotation has been a source of frustration. Landen Roupp hasn’t performed as he did in 2024 or 2025 this season. Offseason signees Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser both have a negative bWAR. They’re not the only negative-WAR starters the Giants have given a handful of outings to, as rookie Trevor McDonald also sits in the negatives. Robbie Ray and Logan Webb have pitched well, but the former is only under control through this season and is likely going to get traded around the deadline. There also isn’t much help on the horizon. Six of their top 15 prospects on MLB Pipeline are pitchers. Of those 15, just two are above High-A.
The Giants have no problem running a higher payroll. They currently have the 11th highest in baseball, sitting about $500K under $200 million. With Arraez and Ray coming off the books, likely at the deadline, and the possibility of the Giants moving any of Matt Chapman, Luis Arraez, and/or Rafael Devers, they’ll have plenty more money to commit to a pitcher, such as Keller.
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies finished 2025 with 119 wins, falling just two losses shy of the modern record set by the Chicago White Sox the previous season. While the Rockies haven’t been nearly as bad as last year, they’re still 38-57. They are over 20 games out of the division. However, they completely rebuilt their front office in the hope of giving the organization more direction.
The Rockies will likely never be known for their pitching, given that their stadium’s altitude makes flyballs go farther and pitches move differently than anywhere else. However, they still need someone who can take the ball every day. As of right now, the Rockies have five starters who have made at least nine starts this year. All but one of them is a free agent after this season. Veterans Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano, Jose Quintana, and Kyle Freeland (whose vesting option is unlikely to come) will hit the open market after this season. Only right-hander Ryan Feltner is controlled through 2027. Chase Dollander will also be out until the second half of the 2027 season after undergoing internal brace surgery (the same procedure as Jared Jones).
The Rockies are not running a very high payroll right now. At just over $117 million, they’re spending about $15 million more than the Pirates currently are. However, they have shown a willingness to spend more in the past. Plus, with so many veteran pitchers hitting free agency, they’ll clear up even more payroll. Keller could provide some much-needed stability to their pitching staff.
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels have not finished a season with fewer than 85 losses since 2018. They are currently 20 games below .500, coming in at 37-57. They also recently hired an interim general manager, John Mozeliak, to take the reins of the franchise for now. The one thing they certainly could use is some rotation stability, even if they don’t trade Reid Detmers and one-time former Pirates prospect Jose Soriano.
As of right now, the Angels have three starters on the IL. Jack Kochanowicz underwent Tommy John surgery last month, so he’ll likely miss most of 2027 as well. Yusei Kikuchi has also spent the last two months on the IL with shoulder issues. Both are on the 60-day IL. The oft-injured Grayson Rodriguez has had two IL stints this year, once in May for shoulder inflammation and now for back inflammation. Rodriguez has yet to start at least ten games in a season since 2024. Only one of the Angels’ top 15 prospects is a pitcher above High-A, and that is George Klassen.
Payroll has never been an issue for the Angels. They are currently spending just under $175 million on their team, and that could go down depending on if they move any short-term pieces at the deadline. Even if the Angels do not trade Detmer and Soriano, they have a severe lack of stability in their rotation. Keller can provide an arm they can count on to make 30+ starts a season.
Baltimore Orioles
After two very promising seasons in 2023 and 2024, the Baltimore Orioles have declined in many respects since then. The once young core has not produced as hoped. They currently sit at 43-51 and are over ten games out of the division. They are, however, less than five out of a Wild Card spot. Still, they’re likely closer to sellers than they are buyers.
While the O’s may not fully rebuild, they may look to move short-term pieces. Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and Trevor Rogers are only under control through 2027. That would leave their rotation looking rather thin. Chris Bassitt has also struggled, both in terms of performance and health, and is a free agent after this season. They do have some interesting prospects; however, many of them still need work in the minor leagues.
The O’s are just behind the Angels in payroll. They also regularly bring in back-rotation veterans to eat innings and soak up starts. In 2023, they brought in Kyle Gibson to serve that role. In 2024, it was Albert Suarez. Last year, they brought Gibson back and signed both Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano to fill the role. This year, it was Chris Bassitt. Now, it could be Mitch Keller.
Other Teams Worth Mentioning
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers did not get off to a hot start to the year, but are 21-12 since the start of June. They’re still seven games below .500, and the next two weeks could decide if they sell high on star pitcher Tarik Skubal and fellow rotation anchor Casey Mize. If they trade both Mize and Skubal, they’ll need someone to take up their starts, especially considering that Jack Flaherty will also likely be out the door in that scenario, as he is a free agent after 2026.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are ten out of the AL Central, and nine out of a Wild Card spot. Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha are about the only sure answers in their rotation. Both Kris Bubic and Cole Ragans have spent most of 2026 on the IL. The former is a free agent after 2026, and the latter hits the open market after 2027. 2025 standout rookie Noah Cameron’s sophomore encore hasn’t been nearly as strong. Steven Kolek has also spent a good portion of the season at Triple-A. The Royals also lack much pitching talent in the minor leagues. The only snag in potentially offloading Keller onto the Royals is that they’re usually close to the Pirates in terms of payroll.
Main Photo Credits: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
