Pirates Rumors: Intriguing new team reportedly enters Mitch Keller trade sweepstakes

Mitch Keller is one of the most interesting trade candidates on this Pirates team. Currently operating in Year 2 of a five-year extension that Ben Cherington convinced Bob Nutting to sign, he is now receiving trade interest from a second team, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, after word of the Cubs' interest emerged last week.

Hiles reported over the weekend that the New York Mets were now showing interest in the right-hander, joining Chicago as the only two publicly known teams to be in on him.

It is not out of the ordinary for teams to listen on these types of controllable players, especially in the situation the Pirates are in, sitting well under .500 and in need of flexibility. At the same time, considering trading off the player that you desperately wanted to extend and keep around for a long period of time as recently as last season feels like Cherington conceding defeat in this rebuild attempt and wanting to start over.

That is the most frustrating part about the team listening on Keller, of course, as he was supposed to be the homegrown veteran who'd be sticking around for the future. Of course, he is also a very moveable piece, considering the surplus of young pitching in the organization. He could land a bat that could really help this lineup score more runs. Despite all that, Cherington's desire to extend him, then contemplate moving him the very next year just doesn't sit right.

Mets now rumored to be involved in trade discussions with Pirates regarding Mitch Keller.

If the Mets are serious about Keller, the Pirates should be after a package including Ronny Mauricio and Carson Benge. Mauricio missed all of 2024 with an injury and has been productive since coming back in 2025. Through 24 games, his wRC+ sits at 107 with a .720 OPS and a 27.1% strikeout rate. Benge just made his Double-A debut recently and has generated a 159 wRC+ with an .877 OPS and a 17.7% strikeout rate.

Keller has been in the Pirates organization for 11 years now, and is now one of the staples of this rotation. The Pirates' current positioning makes a Keller trade feel more plausible, though, and makes this situation even more frustrating for the organization. Cherington has truly made a mess, and is now considering using one of the players he wanted to keep long-term to try to escape it. Cherington needs this deadline's plan to work, or he will find himself jobless quickly.