Photo provided by Matt Lynch
The offseason is underway and there is much to be done for Ben Cherington and the Pittsburgh Pirates heading into the 2026 season.
The Pirates are on the hunt of offensive help and will look to the free agent and trade markets to add reinforcements to a lineup that finished at or near the bottom of the league in most major categories.
Among the assets the Pirates have to try and add to the lineup is right-hander Mitch Keller, who is viewed around the league as a potential trade candidate given his contract and the Pirates’ starting pitching depth. Pittsburgh listened to offers on Keller at the trade deadline but opted to hold onto him for the rest of the season.
If the Pirates move Keller, it would be in a deal to improve the big-league lineup, and Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter forecasts the Pirates moving the veteran starter to the Boston Red Sox.
Reuter has the Pirates landing outfielder Wilyer Abreu from Boston for Keller. It’s an offer that the Pirates should absolutely consider, but one I see the Red Sox being hesitant to make.
Keller is coming off a season in which he finished 6-15 with a 4.19 ERA in 32 starts, which tied a career-high. The 29-year-old has proven to be extremely durable and has made at least 29 starts and has totaled 159-plus innings each of the last four seasons, including three straight years of at least 176.1 innings.
The Pirates signed Keller to a five-year extension prior to the 2024 season. He’s owed roughly $16.9 million in 2026 and has two more years on his contract after that for just shy of $40 million.
Abreu, meanwhile, is coming off another strong season with the Red Sox. In 115 games, the 26-year-old slashed .247/.317/.469 with 17 doubles, 22 home runs and 69 RBI while providing excellent defense, resulting in his second straight Gold Glove award.
After making his MLB debut in 2023, Abreu has totaled 275 games in Boston and owns a .791 OPS (118 OPS+) with 56 doubles, 39 home runs and 141 RBI. 232 of those games as come as a right fielder, where the Venezuela-native has amassed 32 defensive runs saved.
Abreu is not arbitration-eligible until after next season and won’t reach free agency until the 2029-30 offseason. He’s an ideal target for the Pirates this offseason and one they should aggressively pursue, even if it takes more than just Keller to get a deal done.
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