2-22-24 – By Gary Morgan – @garymo2007 on X
There was desire on both sides to get a deal done, and like Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes before him, Mitch Keller becomes another member of this core locked up for most of the decade. This was first reported by Jeff Passan & Kiley McDaniel at ESPN.
Keller and the Bucs are in agreement on a 5 year, 77 million dollar agreement that keeps Keller in Black and Gold through most of the decade and more to the point, continues the effort to lock in players when they feel they’ve found one.
The assumption of course will be that the negative article yesterday made this happen, but anyone who follows contract extensions in MLB knows this has been going on for quite some time and a negative article certainly didn’t make Mitch decide he was suddenly happy to sign.
In 2022 the Pirates extended Ke’Bryan Hayes and Pirates fans noted how nice that was but pointed to some other guys they had to get locked up yet. Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, David Bednar (who I personally wouldn’t extend), Cruz, Suwinski, there are names, you all know them.
3 straight years the Pirates have managed to put one of these deals together and every time they shine more clarity on when they plan to compete and who they aim to do it with.
Mitch Keller is the only established MLB starter on this roster, last year he set the record for Strikeouts for the organization, overtaking AJ Burnett and being named to his first All Star Game.
Call him what you want, Ace or not, he’s the best starter the Pirates have developed since Gerrit Cole and with 2025 being his last year of arbitration, this was key locking in an internally developed leader for the staff, even if he is overtaken by bigger talent during the duration of this deal.
This makes Mitch the highest paid pitcher in franchise history and it’s the second richest extension the Pirates have ever dished out, topped only by Bryan Reynolds last season.
Of all the work they’ve done locking guys up, this in my mind is the most important yet. When you work as hard as both Mitch and the Pirates have to develop a top of the line starter, the message it sends to the team should you just let him walk or trade him can’t be understated.
He’s needed for what he provides to be sure, that’s always first, but the messaging on this one in particular is valuable to the room. Despite what is said about this team, the room is super tight and extending members of that room is something every member of the roster wants and expects to see.
Each extension makes the next more realistic.
The next big part of this will be the breakdown. For instance, did they sign him for 5 years and one of them is 2024? Or does it start next year? How did they structure this deal? I’ll have to wait for further comment there and I’ll put out there right now, I’d prefer if we found out it starts in 2025.
I have to point out how very hard this had to have been. He’s so close to free agency he can taste it and he sees what is going on in the market today. Make no mistake, this happened because Mitch Keller wanted to be a Pirate. Oh, it’s a fair price 15M AAV, but another good season or two and Mitch could have commanded 20, maybe 25 on the open market. That said, he’s one TJ procedure away from the entire market forgetting anything he did, he’s Woodruff in a heartbeat if he sustains an injury that wipes out a year.
Anyway, good news, really no negatives to be found. I’ll have more when I know more.
**Post Publish- Alex Stumpf reports the deal starts this year and there are no options. Meaning he is extended through the 2028 season. Shorter than either Reynolds or Hayes, but in the ballpark.
Steel City Pirates 