No one expected Mitch Keller to have a 2-10 record this season, but the 29-year-old is not entirely at fault for that number. Regardless of his record, the Chicago Cubs have their eyes set on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher.
While Keller is a key piece to a lineup that includes Paul Skenes, who is clearly off the table, the Pirates have seemingly been rebuilding forever; trading Keller would be a massive move that could define what direction the franchise goes.
Cubs Eye Mitch Keller at the Deadline as Jed Hoyer Looks for Answers
With only a two-game lead on the Milwaukee Brewers and a three-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs know they must make a few moves to keep themselves at the top of the National League Central.
This team didn’t meet expectations last season, but Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakout season has led the Cubs to a .590 winning percentage (49-34). As talented as he is, the Cubs need more talent and a few more arms in their rotation.
The Cubs & the Pirates have been engaged in serious trade talks regarding RHP Mitch Keller for more than a week, per @BNightengale.
Keller is currently in the second year of a five-year, $77 million contract. pic.twitter.com/0Vh9XjdsaW
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) June 29, 2025
One pitcher who could be on Chicago’s radar is Keller, according to USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale.
“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.”
Hoyer wouldn’t necessarily be taking a risk on Keller, as he’s proven to be consistent over the last three seasons. While he was 5-12 in 2022, he put up a 3.91 ERA, which is lower than his numbers in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Keller finished the year with a career-high 13 wins, and his 13-9 record was better than where he ended 2024 (11-12).
The biggest risk is financial, as the Cubs seem to be more than one move away from a World Series appearance. They certainly have a talented squad, but it’s one that is currently struggling against the Seattle Mariners, Cardinals, and Houston Astros.
Knowing that the Mariners and Astros are the top teams in the American League West, and the Cardinals are third in their division, these are competitive games that the Cubs need to win.
Keller has thrown fewer than five innings in one of his 17 starts this season. He’s thrown six or more innings in 12 of those starts, with a streak of eight straight games from May 7 to June 15. He’s still young and has much to give in his MLB career, as he boasts a fantastic 77-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio.