Former MLB exec thinks this Pirates-Cubs trade package for Mitch Keller will get done

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, it's crunch time for the Pirates to live up to their status as one of the most bountiful sellers on the market.

From star pitchers Mitch Keller and David Bednar to the offensively-challenged Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh has plenty of pieces to offer contenders over the next few days... in exchange for a massive boost to their farm system, of course.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic has cultivated a certain reputation around this time of year, but the former Reds and Expos/Nationals general manager is well-sourced and always has his ear to the ground with rumors and rumblings. As such, his latest adjudication on a Cubs-Pirates trade centered around Mitch Keller should raise some eyebrows.

The trade proposal? The Cubs receive Mitch Keller and Caleb Ferguson in exchange for Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara.

"Both teams say yes [to this deal]," Bowden claims. "This trade idea just makes too much sense for both sides. The Cubs get the starter they need and a usable southpaw for the bullpen. The Pirates add two outfield prospects who could help their lineup immediately."

Cubs-Pirates Mitch Keller trade proposal nets Pittsburgh outfield of the future

It should be noted, of course, as a chief rival in the NL Central, the Cubs' price for Keller should be higher than, say, a team in the American League East. The consequences of sending Keller within the division mean the Pirates will have to face him multiple times each year; it's only fair if the Cubs are required to send back a few of their top prospects to grease the wheels on the trade.

Besides right fielder Bryan Reynolds, do the Pirates have a long-term outfielder starter anywhere near the majors right now? Oneil Cruz remains as tantalizing as his Home Run Derby performance, but a strikeout rate that hasn't dipped below 30% in any full season and -7 Defensive Runs Saved in center this season suggest a trade could be on the horizon.

Top prospect Konnor Griffin could eventually give up on his shortstop dreams to pursue a full-time role in center field, though the team remains committed to playing him on the infield dirt and his MLB ETA is currently pegged at 2027.

Thus, nabbing Caissie and Alcantara, two top-100 prospects already on the Cubs' 40-man roster, profiles as a boon, even at the cost of Keller and Ferguson.

If you've been hankering for some more Cruz missiles, then allow me to introduce you to the Canadian Hammer.

Caissie is slashing .278/.377/.563 this season with 20 home runs, good for a 137 wRC+ that actually falls short of his 2023 (143) and 2021 (150) marks. He's a 23-year-old corner outfielder with prodigious pop, and though he strikes out as much as Cruz does, he makes contact far more often.

Alcantara, meanwhile, isn't having his best campaign — .263/.347/.452 in 320 Triple-A plate appearances — but he's a true five-tool outfielder who profiles as a strong defensive center fielder. An outfield of Caissie, him, and Reynolds would represent a tantalizing mix of of high-ceiling, high-floor talent that is team-controlled for the next half-decade.

Though trading Keller within the division — to the Cubs of all teams, no less — may reek of desperation, Chicago can offer as mighty of a return package as anyone in the league. If they come armed with two electric outfield prospects knocking on the MLB door, it may be hard for the Pirates to say no.