The Red Sox have enjoyed a strong season, posting a 57-50 record and currently clinging to a narrow 0.5-game lead over both the Mariners and Rangers for the second AL Wild Card spot. They’ve managed to stay competitive despite trading away their longtime franchise star, Rafael Devers, in a blockbuster June 15 deal with the Giants.
That trade marked the beginning of a youth movement in Boston, opening the door for top prospects like Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer to step into bigger roles. However, things haven’t quite unfolded as planned. Anthony is the only one currently on the Major League roster. Campbell was sent back to Triple-A on June 22 and hasn’t returned, while Mayer landed on the injured list on July 24.
Still, Boston’s offense hasn’t missed a beat. Despite the lineup turnover, the Red Sox rank 5th in MLB in total runs scored with 520. Their biggest weakness lies in the starting rotation.
Beyond their top three arms—Garrett Crochet, Bryan Bello, and Lucas Giolito—the Red Sox rotation has been plagued by inconsistency and injuries. Tanner Houck has been sidelined since May 13, and Walker Buehler has labored through 17 starts with a 5.72 ERA. That’s why Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates would be a perfect fit to stabilize things.
Proposed Trade: Red Sox and Pirates
Red Sox Receive:
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RHP Mitch Keller
Pirates Receive:
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LHP Payton Tolle (Boston’s No. 3 prospect, No. 93 overall)
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1B/3B Blaze Jordan (Boston’s No. 17 prospect)
In this potential deal, Pittsburgh lands a Top-100 overall prospect in Tolle, who has impressed across High-A and Double-A with a 3.10 ERA and 110 strikeouts in just 72.2 innings. His fastball has touched 99 mph this year, earning rave reviews from scouts.
Blaze Jordan, meanwhile, is hitting .285 with 5 home runs and 22 RBIs in 41 Triple-A games. His ability to play both corner infield spots gives the Pirates some added flexibility at the big-league level.
As for Keller, he’d instantly become a core part of Boston’s rotation. The 28-year-old righty is under team control through 2029 after signing a 5-year, $77 million extension. He owns a 3.53 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 125 innings in 2024, despite a 4-10 record that reflects Pittsburgh’s struggles more than his own performance.
Fantasy Baseball Impact:
Keller’s fantasy value would rise significantly in this scenario. Leaving a rebuilding Pirates squad for a playoff-hunting Red Sox team would increase his win potential dramatically—just ask anyone who’s watched Paul Skenes pitch lights-out with little run support. Fantasy managers should take notice.
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