STAYING PUT: Pirates Hold Mitch Keller, Three Rentals
The Pittsburgh Pirates made three trades on deadline day. Closer David Bednar was dealt to the New York Yankees for three prospects (pending physicals). Left-handed starter Bailey Falter was traded to the Kansas City Royals for a left-handed reliever and first base prospect. And finally, the Bucs flipped the newly-acquired Taylor Rogers to the Chicago Cubs in a salary dump.
The hottest name on the market from the Pirates is staying put, however. Despite heavy interest from around the league, the Pirates did not trade starting pitcher Mitch Keller. Through 22 starts this season, Keller is 4-10 with a 3.69 ERA and has logged 127 innings.
Keller has been an anchor in the Pirates’ rotation for the past four seasons, totaling 114 starts and 658.1 innings. The 29-year-old signed a five-year extension to remain in Pittsburgh last spring, and he’ll stay a Pirate for at least the rest of the season.
In addition to Keller, the Pirates made an unexpected decision to keep three players playing on expiring contracts. The Pirates did not trade utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, outfielder Tommy Pham or starting pitcher Andrew Heaney.
Kiner-Falefa, who was acquired by the Pirates at last year’s deadline, has served as the team’s everyday shortstop this year. In 94 games, Kiner-Falefa is slashing .265/.306/.329 with 13 doubles, two triples, one home runs, 26 RBI and 12 steals.
After a slow start to the year, Pham has turned his season around in recent weeks and has become one of the Pirates’ top hitters. In 77 games, the 37-year-old has slashed .273/.342/.380 with 12 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 29 RBI.
Heaney, like Pham, was signed to a one-year contract in the offseason. The left-handed veteran is 5-9 with a 4.79 ERA across 21 appearances/20 starts this season.
The decision to hold onto the rentals — at least in the cases of Kiner-Falefa and Heaney — could be attributed to deals made leading up to the deadline. Though he’s played shortstop essentially all season, Kiner-Falefa can slot in for Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base. Heaney’s presence helps soften the blow in the starting rotation of dealing Falter.
Still, it’s surprising to see the Pirates keep all three players,
Also of note, the Pirates kept reliever Dennis Santana, who generated plenty of trade interest. The right-hander will likely serve as the team’s closer in place of Bednar. Santana has already notched a career-high six saves this season and has a 1.36 ERA across 46 appearances.
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