ESPN Puts Chances of Mitch Keller Trade as More Likely Than Not, Lists Potential Fits

Danny Demilio   |  

Dec 2, 2025

SHARE

• Share on Facebook Facebook
• Share on Twitter Twitter

The Pittsburgh Pirates flirted with the idea of moving Mitch Keller at the trade deadline but opted to keep their most veteran starting pitcher. But with a need for offense and a perpetual requirement for financial flexibility, Keller is once again the subject of trade buzz.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel published a list of the top 25 trade candidates for the offseason. At No. 19 on their list was Keller, who they give a 60% chance of getting traded.

The 2025 season was Keller’s seventh in the big leagues. He finished the year 6-15 with a 4.19 ERA across 32 starts, which matched a career-high.

For his career, the 29-year-old is 42-65 with a 4.51 ERA in 165 starts/163 appearances. Keller’s career got off to a rocky start and there were questions as to whether or not he could figure things out. Through his first 39 starts from 2019-21, Keller owned an ugly 6.02 ERA. But his career turnaround began in 2022, when he finished the year with a career-best 3.91 ERA and was named a National League All-Star the following season.

Keller has proved to be a durable innings eater with the Pirates. Since the start of the 2022 season, only eight pitchers have made more starts than Keller’s 124 while only nine have logged more innings than his 707.2.

The Pirates signed Keller to a five-year extension prior to the start of the 2024 season and he has three years remaining on the deal for $55.7 million.

In the article, Passan and McDaniel note that a return could be an established big-league hitter as opposed to prospects. They list the Texas Ranges, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Athletics and New York Mets as potential fits.

Looking at the Mets, the Pirates have been linked to veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil, who is coming off a solid year and has a similar salary as Keller for the upcoming season.