The Kansas City Royals’ starting pitching has been among the best in baseball this season, with the fifth-best ERA in baseball entering Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting at the bottom of a weak National League Central and do not look to be suited for a competitive 2025.
All-Star starting pitcher Mitch Keller could find himself on the trade block as the weather heats up.
While Keller has never had a season of pure dominance as his rotation partner, Paul Skenes, had last season, he has been a steady hand in the Pittsburgh rotation for the past three seasons. Keller was rumored to be on the block this offseason, but a deal was never struck, so here he sits once again, a topic of conversation in front offices around the league.
The Royals have no shortage of starting pitching as they have been one of the better units in baseball through April, but Michael Lorenzen has shown slight regression from last season. Lorenzen has had a lengthy MLB career, but most notably made the flip from reliever to starter in 2022 when he signed with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Royals could flip the script on Lorenzen and move him back to the bullpen, a unit that sits just outside of the top 10 as of Tuesday. This could bolster the Royals staff in more ways than one, leaving the Royals with a reliable spot starter with the big league club if any injuries were to arise.
Keller would fit Kauffman Stadium perfectly, using the pitcher-friendly park to keep the ball in the yard and trusting in the defense behind him to make the plays. Keller is also under contract through 2028, allowing the Royals to build with him and Ragans as the 1-2. Pittsburgh would not miss his services for long, as top prospect Bubba Chandler is already knocking on the door of the major leagues. If the Pirates are out of the hunt, Kansas City could be an ideal spot for the right-hander to land.
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