Source: Pirates Avoid Arbitration With Keller, Bednar, Three Others

The Pittsburgh Pirates have avoided arbitration with all four of their remaining eligible players as Mitch Keller, David Bednar, Connor Joe, JT Brubaker and Edward Olivares all have agreed to deals for 2024, a source told Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

Keller receives the largest salary of the bunch at $5.4425 million, though it’s well shy of his $6 million projection from MLB Trade Rumors. The right-hander was an All-Star for the first time in his career last season and finished the year at 13-9 with a 4.21 ERA in 32 starts.

The 27-year-old will be arbitration-eligible again next winter before he’s eligible for free agency at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Bednar will be paid $4.51 million in 2024. The 29-year-old is coming off of his second-consecutive All-Star appearance in 2023, a year in which he finished with a league-high 39 saves and a 2.00 ERA.

Joe will receive a $2.125 million salary this coming year. He returned to the organization last offseason after he was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 2014 draft. In 133 games last season, the 31-year-old slashed .247/.339/.421 with 31 doubles, which was tied for the team-lead, and 11 home runs.

Brubaker, who missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery, will earn the same $2.275 salary next season.

The Pirates acquired Olivares from the Kansas City Royals earlier in the offseason. Pittsburgh will pay him $1.35 million next year. Last season in Kansas City, Olivares hit .263 with a .769 OPS, 23 doubles, 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 107 games played.

Earlier in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with lefty reliever Ryan Borucki by agreeing to a $1.6 million deal for 2024.