So, Pirates fans, if you liked Monday’s Andrew McCutchen trade rumor, you’ll love Tuesday’s rumor about Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller.
Started by the same person.
It was MLB Network insider Jon Morosi who reported earlier this week that the Texas Rangers had contacted the Pirates possibly take over McCutchen. Now he’s suggesting the Pirates might want to listen to the Baltimore Orioles when they call about starting pitcher Mitch Keller.
“If we’re talking about a trade that would make a more meaningful difference to this team and really add some serious value, I think the Keller name is something we should keep an eye on. I do think there’s a pretty good argument for keeping Keller and pairing him with the young pitcher and then you have one hell of a rotation next year,” Morosi told 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday. “But what What surprises me is that after the season, Keller is in control for two years. Do the Pirates feel like a true World Series or division winner in 2024 or 2025? And if not, then I think you have to at least think about it, ‘Okay, let’s send Keller out and see what kind of bats we can get back.'”
When the pirates do that, I think they are essentially admitting that the ongoing process of rebuilding will never end. At some point they need to keep at least one pitcher who is moderately good. They traded Gerrit Cole when he was 27. Joe Musgrove came back in return. He went to San Diego after he was 28 years old. Jameson Taillon joined the Yankees after his season aged 27 and a series of injuries.
The Pirates have been through a lot of tough times with Keller. Now that he’s 27 and he’s apparently just about to find out, maybe they could trade him up too?
“If you (Pirates General Manager) call Ben Cherington and ask them that question, he’d probably say, ‘We don’t want to trade (basements).’ And they are not,” explained Morosi. “But I think you have to be open to everything. … When you’re under .500, you can’t really have a lot of players on your team that you say are completely untouchable. I would guess they are ready with Keller. If I were to give you a percentage estimate now, the odds of him being in the Pirates roster after the August 1st deadline would still be more than 50/50. But I do think it is. If you’re looking to make a meaningful move, this is probably your best bet.”
Related
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• “I want to be here”: Amid trade talks, Andrew McCutchen says he wants to stay with the Pirates
• Mark Madden: If trading Andrew McCutchen makes sense for the Pirates, they should do it
Keller is by far the Pirates’ best pitcher right now. He is 8-3 this season with a 3.45 ERA across 16 starts. He has 113 strikeouts and 26 walks over 99 innings. He could be an all star. If the pirates even considered such an option, they would have to reap big loot in return. Morosi thinks the 48-30 Orioles could do it.
“Baltimore has enough players in the minor league positions to give you someone who is a young, everyday player who has value and doesn’t feel like they’re jeopardizing their future in the process. I think the number of teams that can do that is pretty small and Baltimore is on that list.”
To see McCutchen dealt out again so quickly after his return this year could be more of an emotional punch in the gut for the Pirates fan base. But seeing Keller treated would be more of an insult to his intelligence.
Certainly, Keller would yield a higher return. But it would also be just the latest proof that the pirates’ business plan of constant rebuilding will never change course.
Pittsburgh has become more emotionally invested in McCutchen. But the rebuilding of the franchise has invested a lot more in Keller. His departure would be far more significant on the whole, and he won’t return to free agency next year like McCutchen might.
Granted, Morosi only talks about Keller and is merely passing on information that the Rangers want McCutchen.
In either case, the smoke from Pittsburgh’s side is non-igniting.
Still.
However, the fact that any of those moves is plausible enough for a reporter on the league’s network to consider worthy of discussion is an indicator of how the outside world thinks the local club will continue to operate.
But hey, the Pirate Luau Gift Shirts That’s fun, isn’t it?
Tim Benz is a contributor at Tribune-Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. Unless otherwise noted, all emails are subject to publication.