Trade discussions between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be heating up. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale the Cubs have been in active talks for more than a week with their NL Division foe to acquire 2023 All-Star pitcher Mitch Keller.
Trade talks between the two clubs went public earlier this week, when Nightengale first linked the Cubs to Keller and Pirates' closer David Bednar. Then, Chicago baseball insider Bruce Levine confirmed the interest, saying the Cubs were indeed having conversation with the Pirates about Keller. Now, Nightengale is once again reporting the connection.
Here's the latest from Nightengale's Sunday article in USA Today.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been engaged in serious trade talks for more than a week with the Chicago Cubs about starter Mitch Keller. Keller, who’s in the second year of a five-year, $77 million contract, is under control through 2028, earning $15 million this year, $16.5 million in 2026, $18 million in 2027 and $20 million in 2028.
It looks like the same update, but Nightengale seems to present the idea that the Cubs and Pirates have been trying to work out a deal for a while.
Keller, 29, has been in the big leagues since 2019, and on paper he's put up similar production to Jameson Taillon. The right-hander has a 4.51 ERA in his career, improving overall since the beginning of the 2022 season.
So far in 2025, the right-hander has posted a 3.64 ERA in 18 starts for the Pirates. Keller has a 1.19 WHIP with an 18.9 K%. During his All-Star season in 2023, Keller did have a 25.5 K%.
His peripherals look solid this year as Keller has recorded a 3.24 FIP and 3.88 xFIP in 106.1 innings. He's only allowed seven home runs and his 0.59 HR/9 ranks seventh best among all MLB starting pitchers. Keller has generally done a good job of keeping the ball in the park, averaging one home run per nine innings throughout his MLB career.
The Cubs obviously want to improve their starting rotation in 2025, but Keller would also give the team some cover for the future as a few members of the rotation are not signed beyond the next few years. Keller is signed through the 2028 season.
Jameson Taillon: free agent after 2026
Matthew Boyd: free agent after 2026 (2027 mutual option, $15 million)
Colin Rea: free agent after 2025 (2026 club option, $6 million)
The Cubs have been without their top-two starting pitchers for big chunks of the 2025 season, which has taken its toll on the rest of the rotation. Justin Steele won't return after undergoing elbow surgery, but at least Shōta Imanaga is back after missing about seven weeks of action with a hamstring injury.
Overall this season, the Cubs rotation ranks No. 8 in baseball with a 4.30 ERA. However, from May 5 through June 25, when Imanaga was out, the rotation had a bottom-three ERA of 4.91.
Whether it's Keller, someone else, or Keller and someone else, the Cubs do need to upgrade the rotation in 2025.
Keller is certainly turning it on as of late on the mound and on Wednesday he gave the Pirates his best start of the season.
The righty tossed seven shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out seven, walking one and allowing five hits. Keller now has a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts.
