Yankees rumored to be 'in the mix' for Pirates trade candidate who isn't Ke'Bryan Hayes

Almost every single team this year that has shown interest in one of the Pirates' players has also reportedly called about another. First, it was the Cubs showing interest in both Mitch Keller and David Bednar, then the Phillies with Bednar and Dennis Santana, and the Royals in Bryan Reynolds and (obviously) Adam Frazier, who they completed a deal for.

Now the New York Yankees are a new team that meets that criteria, previously showing interest in Ke'Bryan Hayes and now Keller too, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. The market for the veteran right-hander is getting deeper and deeper, potentially turning into a really good scenario for the Pirates.

The Yankees join the Cubs and Mets as the three reported teams with interest in Keller. Now that the market features more and more teams, a bidding war could really help Pittsburgh maximize the value that Keller has. There are no key indications that the Pirates 'want' to move on from Keller, yet they are looking for any way possible to upgrade this offense. Anything could happen.

A Pirates trade with the Yankees feels even more likely, now that Mitch Keller joins Ke'Bryan Hayes as a New York target.

If more teams continue to get into the bidding for Keller, Pittsburgh could potentially get a return that could save this team from another year below .500.

Keller has a team-friendly contract for the next three seasons, too. The production he brings, consistently pitching 30 or more games for the last three seasons at an above-average rate, is worth every penny in his deal.

The Pirates' surplus of prospects climbing through the farm system makes it easier to deal a reliable arm like Keller, especially if it means landing a young, controllable bat that can help turn this offense around.

Now that the Yankees are a possible suitor for Keller, can they formulate a return that could really help Pittsburgh? If it is anything like the Jameson Taillon and Clay Holmes deals, Ben Cherington must hang up the phone immediately. A package would likely be headlined by Spencer Jones, supplemented by someone like slugging outfielder Everson Pereira.

There are a lot of interesting possibilities for a Yankees trade package involving Keller. Pittsburgh would be wise to not include Hayes in a deal with Keller, though, in order to maximize his value, as Hayes would likely bring it down.