Yes, the Pittsburgh Pirates still might trade right-hander Mitch Keller.
Such a deal is perhaps less likely after the Pirates’ first major transaction of the offseason, their acquisition Thursday night of outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-handed prospect Jesus Travieso from the Boston Red Sox for right-hander Johan Oviedo and two prospects.
Yet, even after parting with Oviedo, the Pirates are open to trading another starting pitcher not named Paul Skenes, according to team sources. The return would need to be a hitter who would go directly into their lineup. After scoring the fewest runs in the majors during their seventh straight losing season, club officials will not rule out anything.
The Pirates’ goal this offseason is to add one or two regulars, plus two to four other less-proven position players who would add depth. Garcia, at least for now, figures to fall into the latter category. He is only 22, with only nine plate appearances in the majors. The Pirates envision him as a future regular and will give him an opportunity to make the club out of spring training. But they are not ready to commit to him just yet.
Infielders Jorge Polanco, Ryan O’Hearn and Kazuma Okamoto are among the free-agent hitters the Pirates are considering. Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe and New York Mets second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil are among the other players they might explore in trades. Pretty much every hitter available is on the Pirates’ radar.
Keller, 29, would be difficult to move for anything but an impact bat. He has averaged 183 innings the past three seasons, and if the Pirates trade him, they might need to backfill his spot by adding another starter. The $54.5 million he is owed over the next three seasons is reasonable for a mid-rotation type. Teams, though, are reluctant to give up hitters of even modest distinction, and better starters are currently available on the free-agent market. If the Pirates are to move Keller, it might take time.
For now, Garcia is precisely the kind of player the Pirates want to acquire, a physical, athletic outfielder with an aggressive approach. At least one Red Sox official believes that once Garcia reins in that approach, he could be a dangerous hitter. The Pirates are already considering opening the season with their top prospect, 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin. Garcia, if he develops, could also become part of an emerging young core.
The pitcher the Pirates acquired, Travieso, is only 18 and listed at 5-foot-11 and 140 pounds. He made an immediate impression after the Red Sox signed him out of Venezuela for just $10,000 in 2024, jumping into their rotation at Class-A Salem one year later. He tops out at 97 mph to 99 mph and fills the zone with a variety of shapes, according to a scout who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give his opinions publicly. But like most teenage pitchers, he is something of a lottery ticket.
For the Pirates, Garcia is the centerpiece. They can only hope the hitter known as “The Password” helps unlock an offense that has been dormant for too long.