Pirates Q&A: Does Pittsburgh Need to Trade Keller? Potential Targets?
Welcome back to another edition of our Pittsburgh Pirates Q&A. Let’s get to your questions.
Do we really need to sacrifice good pitchers like Keller to get a good bat? Is there another avenue we could take? – James Johnston
In an ideal world, no, they wouldn’t. The Pirates should be able to spend money on impactful free agents to make a true different. But because of orders from the top, that approach is avoided like the plague.
Keller is the best trade chip on the Pirates’ active roster. He could no doubt fetch a nice return that would be headlined by either an established big-league bat or a prospect nearing the big leagues who is highly-regarded. Trading Keller would also free $50-plus million off the books over the next couple years, resources that could be allocated elsewhere.
Outside of Keller, the Pirates’ best course of action in trying to land a lineup upgrade would be dealing one of their many pitching prospects for a hitting prospect or young player from another organization.
Trading Keller would be a huge risk for the Pirates. He’s an effective starting pitcher with a reasonable — by MLB standards — contract. They don’t NEED to trade Keller, but it’s one of their best options to get a legit bat. It shouldn’t be that way, but welcome to 115 Federal St.
What are some names you have been hearing that would be available to the Pirates in hypothetical Keller and Bednar trades? Is a guy like Owen Cassie from the Cubs available? – @SKRummel22
Cassie, who is considered the Cubs’ top prospect, could be had, but it would probably be for a deal involving Keller and another player — maybe David Bednar? Sticking with the Cubs, outfielder Kevin Alcantara is another logical option.
The Mets are another team linked to Keller. Jett Williams is their top prospect, but New York might be reluctant to move him. Outfielder Carson Benge is someone I’m quite high on, and he’s someone that should be a reasonable ask from the Pirates.
One other team that might be in the mix for Keller is the Yankees. George Lombard Jr. might be off the table, unless he’s part of a bigger package, but outfielder Spencer Jones is off to a torrid start in Triple-A.
Will Cruz be traded before 2027? – Derf Esurk
It’s entirely possible, given that Oneil Cruz is arbitration-eligible for the second time in the 2026-27 offseason and will be a free agent after 2028. But they shouldn’t.
In fact, I’ll take the complete opposite side of this debate. Cruz is a player the Pirates should be trying to extend. Though he has hit faults, Cruz is the most talented player the Pirates have had since, I don’t know, Barry Bonds?
He is among the fastest and most powerful players in baseball. He’s improving his defense in center field. He’s played better of late, too. This is their chance to try and seize an opportunity by taking a risk with the hope he will put it all together one day.
To my knowledge, there haven’t been any serious discussions on the possibility as of yet.
Why don’t they change the lineup with other players. Just keep doing the same thing with the same cast and it’s not working. – Andy Bombash
I get it for now to an extent. They’re trying to showcase the handful of players other teams will try and land at the trade deadline — Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Tommy Pham, Ke’Bryan Hayes, etc.
After the trade deadline, I think things will look different. Liover Peguero should get more chances. Nick Yorke and Billy Cook should get some reps. Cam Devanney, the player the Pirates acquired for Adam Frazier, is ready to make his debut.
But the bigger problem is that as bad as the offense has been this season, there are no definite replacements that would give the Pirates upgrades. How sad is that to read?
Why is Ben Cherington still here. He has done nothing here. – Kenneth Thompson
Leading up to this season, I had numerous people ask me if I was surprised Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton were coming back for a sixth year. I always gave the same response — “I would be, if it was any other organization.”
Shelton has since been axed, but Cherington remains at the helm. He handled the draft. He will run the trade deadline. He will likely remain through the end of the season, and perhaps even next year.
I cant say I ever remember a GM or manager who has continually lost getting this much run. The Pirates’ woes aren’t all on Cherington, but he hasn’t done himself many favors.
Ultimately, it’s only Bob Nutting’s call. He rarely fires people, even if it’s the best course of action for the organization he runs.
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