Three potential landing spots for Pirates starter Mitch Keller

In theory, the Pittsburgh Pirates do not need to trade pitcher Mitch Keller.

Keller is under team control through 2028 with a total of $55.7M over the final three years of his five-year, $77M extension. His contract is a bargain, even for a team with payroll concerns such as the Pirates.

However, Pittsburgh has a lot of young pitchers on the cusp of reaching the majors. Pitchers Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington have already made their major league debuts. Prospects Hunter Barco and Bubba Chandler are expected to reach the majors this season. Injured pitcher Jared Jones will be back in 2026. Keller is expendable, especially for a team lacking talented young position players.

Let's take a look at three potential landing spots for Keller ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

New York Mets

The Mets pitching depth has been tested this season, as pitchers Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill all spent time on the injured list. Griffin Canning is lost for the rest of this season and may not return until 2027. Montas has already returned to the rotation while Manaea and Senga are expected back this week.

Questions remain in the rotation even with that trio returning. Montas has allowed 10 runs on 15 hits and four walks in his three starts since returning from the IL. Clay Holmes has already surpassed his career high for innings. It is not a surprise that New York is reportedly interested in acquiring Keller to shore up the rotation.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs lead the NL Central despite a rotation that is questionable at best. First time All-Star Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga are a respectable one-two punch, but the rest of the rotation is not playoff caliber. Injuries to pitchers Jameson Taillon and Justin Steele only magnified those question marks.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, Taillon's injury has put more pressure on Chicago to trade for a pitcher. Accordingly, the Pirates' price tag has increased. As Keller would be a long-term solution for the Cubs rotation, Chicago may not balk at the higher prospect cost.

Toronto Blue Jays

Keller would solve a problem for the Blue Jays both this season and into the future. Toronto has struggled to find a viable option as a fifth starter all season while future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer has been a shadow of himself when he has been able to take the mound.

The Blue Jays also need to find options for the rotation in 2026 onward. Scherzer and Chris Bassitt will be free agents at the end of this season. Alec Manoah should be back at some point but he has been unable to replicate his All-Star performance in 2022. Keller would be a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm for a team looking to reach the postseason.