{"id":104551,"date":"2025-07-22T14:38:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=104551"},"modified":"2025-07-22T14:38:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:38:40","slug":"report-blue-jays-trade-mitch-keller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/22\/report-blue-jays-trade-mitch-keller\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Blue Jays Entering the Mitch Keller Sweepstakes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Blue Jays have entered the bidding for the services of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kellemi03.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mitch Keller<\/a>. This, according to a report by Pirates beat reporter Noah Hiles in the July 22 <em>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2>Report: Blue Jays Entering the Mitch Keller Sweepstakes<\/h2>\n<h3>Blue Jays in on Pirates Keller<\/h3>\n<p>The right-handed Keller has been a solid starter all season long despite a 3-10 record that\u2019s a product of a lack of support from a poor baseball team. He\u2019s turned in a 3.48 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.143 WHIP, 123 ERA+, and 3.41 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Keller has pitched at least six innings in his last 13 starts. He\u2019s given up three runs or fewer in 12 of those starts. Last season, he signed a $77 million <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/02\/22\/mitch-keller-extension-pirates\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">contract extension<\/a>. The team that lands Keller would be on the hook for that, but would have him tied up through 2028.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Blue Jays are showing interest in Mitch Keller \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n<p>Keller is locked down until 2028 and has a 3.48 ERA this season.<\/p>\n<p>Would you want the Blue Jays to trade for him?<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BlueJays<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TorontoBlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#TorontoBlueJays<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DyY9OzO1nI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/DyY9OzO1nI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Blue Jays Today (@TodayJays) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TodayJays\/status\/1947680243549868344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Toronto enters Tuesday\u2019s action in first place in the American League East Division at 59-41, four games ahead of a New York Yankees team that surely won\u2019t spend the trade deadline standing pat. It\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/10\/mlb-insider-interest-blue-jays\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">no secret<\/a> that the Blue Jays could use another starter. At age 40, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/scherma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Scherzer<\/a> has spent time on the injured list and pitched in only five games this season. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/francbo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bowden Francis<\/a>, with his 2-8 record and 6.05 ERA, has been subpar to say the least. He\u2019s currently on the IL. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lauerer01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Lauer<\/a> has been a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/06\/26\/eric-lauer-dominating-blue-jays-rotation-this-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">surprising savior<\/a> for the rotation. The veteran left-hander is 5-2 with a 2.80 ERA and 0.967 WHIP in 15 games. But he didn\u2019t pitch in the majors in 2024 and registered a 6.56 ERA in 10 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. One wonders how long his current performance can be sustained.<\/p>\n<h3>Four Teams Interested in Keller<\/h3>\n<p>The Blue Jays are the fourth team to inquire about Keller. There has also been <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/18\/pirates-insider-noah-hiles-trade-rumor-mill\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">known interest<\/a> from the Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets, although Hiles recently reported that the Cubs view Keller as more of a backup plan. (A backup plan to what? It would be hard to find a pitcher of Keller\u2019s caliber who\u2019s tied up long-term.)<\/p>\n<p>That the Blue Jays have contacted the Pirates about Keller comes as no surprise. Indeed, observers of either team had to be wondering what took so long. The Jays have been a favorite trade partner of Pirates general manager Ben Cherington ever since he took the job in November 2019. Cherington had previously served as Toronto\u2019s vice president of baseball operations, a position he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/17548680\/toronto-blue-jays-hire-ben-cherington-vp-baseball-operations\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">assumed<\/a> in September 2016. He\u2019s shown an inclination to acquire Blue Jays players, via trade or otherwise, particularly those that were in the Toronto system during his time there. There have been 19 such players in all. Among the more prominent names are current Pirates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/borucry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Borucki<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cabrege01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">G\u00e9nesis Cabrera<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/horwisp01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spencer Horwitz<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kineris01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isiah Kiner-Falefa<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mayzati01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tim Mayza<\/a>, and former Pirates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/alforan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Alford<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/heinety01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyler Heineman<\/a> (now back with the Jays), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/palacjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joshua Palacios<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tellero01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-07-22_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rowdy Tellez<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Pirates Looking for Bats<\/h3>\n<p>Cherington is reported to be looking for young, controllable hitters at this year\u2019s trade deadline. The Pirates&#8217; offense has been one of the worst in baseball, hitting .230\/.300\/.338 as a team. Cherington doesn\u2019t necessarily have to trade Keller, who can still play an important role for the Pirates as an experienced rotation anchor. Cherington would have been bowled over by the return. At the same time, one must give to receive. With some 25 teams, give or take, considering themselves buyers, the law of supply and demand should dictate that Cherington should be able to extract a hefty return for Keller. On the other hand, Cherington has a poor track record of obtaining good hitters when he\u2019s had good pitching to trade.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, on last Sunday\u2019s <em>#1 Cochran Sports Showdown<\/em> on local Pittsburgh television, the four-person panel of experts questioned whether owner Bob Nutting should even permit Cherington to trade such an important piece as Keller. Their thinking was that Cherington is likely to be fired after this season anyway. The Pirates may be better served by using the deadline to unload expiring contracts. Then the next GM would make the franchise-altering trades that Pittsburgh so desperately needs. The panel felt that Nutting should sign off on any trade of Keller before Cherington is allowed to proceed. However, that contradicts the reality as reported by Hiles. Cherington told Hiles that he has been working the phones since the draft concluded. It will be interesting to see whether Keller lands with the Blue Jays and what the return might be.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credits: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Toronto Blue Jays have entered the bidding for the services of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller. This, according to a report by Pirates beat reporter Noah Hiles in the July 22 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Report: Blue Jays Entering the Mitch Keller Sweepstakes Blue Jays in on Pirates Keller The right-handed Keller has been a solid [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":104563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,1071,26],"tags":[3215,6208,28388,1311,4809,79,2762,203,953,28345],"class_list":["post-104551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bluejays","category-mlb","category-pirates","tag-ben-cherington","tag-bob-nutting","tag-bowden-francis","tag-eric-lauer","tag-isiah-kiner-falefa","tag-max-scherzer","tag-mitch-keller","tag-rowdy-tellez","tag-ryan-borucki","tag-spencer-horwitz"],"modified_by":"Evan Mazza, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104551"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":104564,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104551\/revisions\/104564"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}