The Boston Red Sox are one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball. Winners of nine straight before the All-Star break, Boston has played itself right back into the tight American League East division race. They sit a handful of games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, but after the long winning streak, Boston believes now that this season is worth going all in for.
MLB’s trade deadline is about 10 days away, and these last handful of games will reveal the Red Sox’s strategy. However, if they were to make moves, it would likely be in a buying mindset rather than selling. Boston’s most significant need is a depth starter, and the Pittsburgh Pirates may have an arm they will make available.
Trade Idea Sends Mitch Keller to the Red Sox
As arms are starting to reportedly be made available, the Pirates’ 2023 All-Star starter Mitch Keller is one of the hottest names on the market. Keller comes with a few years of control, and he’s putting together a great 2025 season. He has a 3.48 ERA in 119 innings over 20 starts. With a WHIP at 1.143 and just 2.0 BB/9, Keller is the perfect arm for the Boston Red Sox to inquire about.
Ian Browne of MLB.com believes the Red Sox will be ‘targeted buyers’ with their top need being to find another impact starter:
“Find an impact starting pitcher to put behind Garret Crochet. Following the Rafael Devers trade, the Red Sox have financial flexibility to bring in a stud pitcher by trading from their impressive pool of outfield depth. Jarren Duran continues to come up in trade rumors and his skillset is obviously one that is desirable to many contenders. The Sox will also try to find a more permanent salutation at first base to stop the mixing and matching that has gone on since Triston Casas went down for the season in early May,” wrote Browne.
Keller looks like a perfect fit for Boston, right in the thick of the AL Wild Card race. The Red Sox haven’t made the playoffs since 2021, and one could assume that since they are above .500 and having a solid back-half of the season thus far, that they will certainly go for it at this trade deadline.
Mitch Keller is Controllable Through 2029
Keller draws strong interest partly because he has three years of team control. The Boston Red Sox have two strong frontline rotation pieces in ace Garrett Crochet and even Lucas Giolito, after battling injuries early in the season, has turned into a good rotation piece for Boston. However, Keller would easily slot in the second position of the rotation, right behind Crochet.
The Red Sox have the trade capital to land the Piratesâ 29-year-old starter, though it would undoubtedly come at a cost. A good return package would include outfielder Rob Refsnyder and two high-level prospects in Jhostynxon Garcia and James Tibbs III. While this may be too much that the Red Sox are willing to give up, it’s hard to beleive the Pirates would ask for anything less as they desperately need hitting prospects that are on the verge of being MLB-ready.
Expect for the Red Sox to make a big splash in the pitching market as the trade deadline looms ever so close.
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