Mitch Keller’s future is one of the biggest questions hanging over the Pirates’ offseason, and Ben Cherington isn’t closing the door on anything.
Speaking at the General Managers’ Meetings on Nov. 10 at the ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the Pirates’ GM made it clear he still believes Keller can be a major part of the club’s plans in 2027. He also left room for the possibility that Pittsburgh could explore other paths if it helps the roster.
“Good. He’s going to have a normal offseason,” Cherington said.
“You know, we don’t anticipate any limitations with his offseason. He’s basically recovered from the injury.
He’s throwing. He hasn’t been off a mound yet, but that’ll happen.
You know, at a normal time in the offseason.
“We’ve been, we’ve been in touch with him. We’ve visited him. I haven’t personally, but our staff has visited him already in Iowa this offseason.
“He’s in a really good spot physically, mentally, ready to attack the offseason. We believe, and you know, betting on good things from him next year.”
That update matters because Keller’s 2026 season went sideways fast. The Pirates put him on the 60-day injured list on Aug. 2 with a right arm teres major muscle injury, ending his year early. It was his first injured list stint since 2021, a stretch in which he had been one of Pittsburgh’s most dependable arms, routinely giving the club 30-plus starts and 150-plus innings over the previous four seasons.
The numbers this year told the story of a season that never fully recovered. Keller finished 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA in 22 starts over 115.2 innings, striking out 89 and walking 42. He also posted a .259 BAA and a 1.37 WHIP.
His year started much better than it ended. Through his first eight starts, Keller was 4-1 with six quality starts, a 2.87 ERA, a .206 BAA and a 1.04 WHIP. Then came May 13 against the Rockies at PNC Park, when he carried a perfect game into the fifth inning before the inning unraveled into six runs in a 10-4 loss.
From there, he never found that early rhythm again. Over his final 14 starts, Keller went 2-7 with a 6.95 ERA across 68.2 innings, striking out 54 and walking 28 while allowing 13 home runs. Among pitchers with at least 60 innings in that span, he finished with the second-highest ERA and tied for the second-most losses.
Even with Keller coming off a rough season, Cherington stressed that the Pirates still expect more from him. The GM said Keller’s health is trending in the right direction and that the organization believes there’s more in the tank.
“No doubt, it’s a really important part of the team going into ’27,” Cherington said. We do need more out of him in 2027. I think he knows that.
“I think he was also pitching through some things this year and trying to grind through some things, and probably wasn’t at his full capacity for parts of the season, but bottom line, you know, we know he’s capable of more, and we need it, and, and he knows that too.”
Keller’s role matters because Pittsburgh’s rotation is young behind him. Paul Skenes is the second-most veteran starter heading into his fourth season, while Jared Jones and Braxton Ashcraft are set for their second full season, and Bubba Chandler will do the same after his rookie year.
At the same time, Keller’s contract and the Pirates’ payroll picture keep him squarely in the middle of offseason planning. He has the team’s highest salary next season at $18.5 million, the fourth year of the five-year, $77 million extension he signed on Feb.
22, 2024. Pittsburgh is projected to carry a $100 million payroll for 2027 before any new additions.
That leaves room for real questions. Keller has been mentioned in trade rumors in previous seasons, and the Pirates could decide to move him if it helps create flexibility for other needs, including bullpen help, third base, a right-handed power bat that can hit lefties, or even a left-handed starter.
Cherington said the club is laying groundwork at the GM Meetings and that nothing is off the table before the Dec. 1 lockout. Still, he also sounded like someone who expects Keller to be part of the answer.
“I think partly by not really needing to make any decisions right now on when guys are pitching and how we construct the staff and roles and everything, like it’s you know it’s competition,” Cherington said.
“It’s got, you know, stuff’s got to be earned, and if there’s ways to make the team better through the rotation, then we’re going to pursue that.
“Like there’s nothing that’s out of bounds, and at the same time, we know that we know what Mitch is capable of, and best outcome for him, best outcome for the Pirates, as he comes in and he’s clearly one of those guys we’re counting on, you know, 32 times a year. I believe, I’m betting on that. That’ll be the outcome that we get.”
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