Pittsburgh Pirates Eye Mitch Keller Trade, Could Pursue Hunter Greene
After failing to finalize a deal for Mitch Keller at the trade deadline, all indications point to the right-hander being moved this offseason.
While Keller’s backloaded contract — more than $55 million over the next three years — may limit the Pirates’ return, he remains one of the most reliable starters in MLB. Over the past three seasons, Keller has pitched between 175-200 innings annually, posting ERAs between 4.19-4.25. In 2025, he recorded a 4.19 ERA across 176⅓ innings, reinforcing his reputation as a consistent innings-eater who delivers quality starts week after week.
Keller’s value could net the Pirates multiple useful offensive contributors — a much-needed boost for a lineup still searching for production. However, moving him would also mean losing a key piece of the rotation. With Paul Skenes’ team control ticking, the Pirates face a strategic question: is it feasible to execute two major trades this offseason?
Targeting Hunter Greene
One potential path involves targeting Hunter Greene of the division rival Cincinnati Reds. The 26-year-old right-hander brings a triple-digit fastball and has posted a 2.76 ERA over the past two seasons. Greene also offers a team-friendly contract through 2028, with three years and $40 million remaining, plus a club option for 2029 at $21 million — a bargain compared with Keller’s $8.83 million AAV.
The challenge is that Greene won’t come cheap. Being in the NL Central, the Pirates may need to include top prospects in any deal. While some combinations could avoid sending elite prospect Konnor Griffin, the team might have to feature Bubba Chandler or other highly regarded talents. Past trades, like last summer’s Ke’Bryan Hayes deal, may influence negotiations, either smoothing or complicating relations between the franchises.
Ultimately, it will fall to GM Ben Cherington to weigh the risks. Trading Keller for offensive pieces and then leveraging the farm system to acquire Greene could be a lateral move in the short term, but it would maximize the Pirates’ window with Skenes and Greene at the forefront — an enticing prospect for the organization as it looks to rebuild and compete.