The starting pitching market might have gotten thinner before today’s 6 p.m. deadline.
The Pirates’ most prized possession at the trade deadline may not be going anywhere after all.
After lots of speculation that the Pirates would trade Mitch Keller to clear salary and get a bat or two that can help the lineup; and with much interest from the Yankees, Cubs, Mets, Blue Jays, and Red Sox, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal is saying that Pittsburgh won’t trade Keller “barring a dramatic shift” today. An anonymous executive from a team interested in Keller stopped pursuing due to the Pirates’ reluctance to seriously engage, according to the report.
The Pirates front office is treating Mitch Keller as a very valuable asset that they are more than happy to keep unless they are suddenly blown away by an offer they can’t refuse, and that’s probably how they should’ve been going about it all along. Keller is simply too valuable to this team as the veteran anchor of a solid pitching staff, and despite a lot of young pitching talent up and coming that may be a part of the rotation shortly, the Pirates know for sure what they have in Keller, who is on a team-friendly deal.
Pittsburgh could have more time to find the right trade partner and package for Keller to acquire much-needed offensive production in the offseason if a lack of free agent spending is once again a significant issue. But regardless, if teams see Keller as an average starting pitcher, then the Pirates shouldn’t give in to other clubs’ evaluation of Keller in negotiations.
With Keller seemingly off the table, it’s also been reported that the Pirates could move one of their younger, controllable pitchers (Braxton Ashcraft?) to acquire offensive talent by today’s 6 p.m. deadline.