Pirates News - Spring Training Notebook: Mitch Keller's big day leads Thursday's headlines
While it was a generally quiet day, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a big splash on Thursday by signing top of the line starter Mitch Keller to a long-term extension.
![Pittsburgh Pirates v Chicago Cubs](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3902,h_2194,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/4/01hqa6njsa7rmsxkv1rv.jpg)
Mitch Keller had himself a day at camp on Thursday plus more in today's Pittsburgh Pirates spring training notebook
We're beginning to feel like a broken record when it comes to saying it was a quiet day but for the most part it was. The good news is that those days are almost over. The Pirates as of Friday morning are just one day away from their spring training opener against Minnesota on Saturday and then after that, it's nearly baseball every day for the next six months.
That being said, there was significant news to come out of Pirates camp on Thursday surrounding top of the line starter Mitch Keller. But before we get into that and as we get ready for the Pirates to start their spring training schedule, be sure to check out Noah Wright's latest article as he takes a look at three Pirates who are players to watch this spring.
Notes From Bradenton - Mitch Keller's big day
While there wasn't a ton of news to flow out of Bradenton on Thursday, there was a big piece of news. That news of course being that the Pirates will be extending their top starter Mitch Keller with a five-year deal worth $77 million. You can read more on Keller's extension, here, courtesy of Nicholas Caporoso.
That wasn't the only good news for Keller on Thursday as he also learned that he will be the Pirates opening day starter for the second year in a row. He will be just the third Pirate since the turn of the millennium to start back-to-back opening days. The other two Pirates to do so are Francisco Liriano from 2014 through 2016 and Oliver Perez in 2005 and 2006. Jerrod McGann has more on Keller getting the opening day nod, here.
The 27-year old Keller was 13-9 for the Pirates last season, the first year of his career in which he finished with a winning record while also earning his first career All-Star Game nod. On top of his winning record, Keller posted a 4.21 ERA across 32 starts and a career high 194.2 innings pitched while also recording a career best FIP of 3.80. The former second round pick is expected to be the Pirates No. 1 starter throughout the 2024 season.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
In the National League East, the Miami Marlins agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with shortstop Tim Anderson per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. Anderson is expected to be the Marlins everyday shortstop in 2024. The 30-year old Anderson is coming off a down year in which he hit .245/.286/.296 with one home run and 25 RBI. In the four seasons prior to last year, Anderson hit .322/.349/.495 with a 125 OPS+ across 295 games.
Could the Marlins signing Anderson indicate any possibility of a rumored trade between the Fish and Bucs surrounding starting pitcher Edward Cabrera now being zero? It certainly seems reasonable considering the rumor was a middle infielder being the center of a possible return for Miami.
The Detroit Tigers added depth to their infield by signing Gio Urshela to a one year deal. The Tigers will be his fourth team in four years and the sixth of his career as he enters his ninth year in Major League Baseball. Last season, Urshela hit .299/.329/.374 in 62 games for the Los Angeles Angels with two home runs in 24 at-bats.
To build off yesterday's reports that New York Met ace Kodai Senga was feeling some arm fatigue, the Mets announced on Thursday that the Japanese right hander will open the season in the injured list after being diagnosed with a moderate posterior capsule strain. The Mets currently list him as out indefinitely.
Next. 3 NRI to watch. 3 interesting non-roster invitees to watch. dark