*Photo from The Athletic*
This extension is a key one. The Pittsburgh Pirates and RHP Mitch Keller have agreed to a 5 year, $77 million contract extension, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Pirates have made the signing official.
The deal starts this season and pays Keller $15.4 million annually. It's now the second largest contract in Pirates history, passing the $70 million given to Ke'Bryan Hayes and falling under the $106.75 million deal Bryan Reynolds is playing on. The deal delays Keller's first 3 years of free agency eligibility and takes care of his two remaining years of arbitration eligibility.
Last season, Keller made his first All Star Game and threw the first complete game shutout of his career. He posted a 4.21 ERA, 3.80 FIP, and 1.245 WHIP, averaging 9.7 strikeouts per 9 innings over 32 starts and 194 1/3 innings.
Since the halfway point of the 2022 season, Keller has enjoyed increased success at the top of the Pirates rotation after struggling to start his career. He was the team's opening day starter in 2023 and has surpassed 100 innings pitched in each of the last 3 seasons, setting new career highs in innings each year.
Last season, 18 of Keller's 32 starts qualified as quality starts, allowing 3 runs or less in at least 6 innings pitched. This season will be Keller's 10th in the organization after he was drafted by the team in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of high school in Iowa.
Keller has pitched in 5 major league seasons, debuting in a Pirates uniform with an 11 game showing in 2019. He has a 4.71 ERA, 1.449 WHIP, and 3.99 FIP to his name, averaging 3.4 walks per 9 innings and 9 strikeouts per 9, throwing 523 2/3 innings while making 100 starts and two relief appearances.
This is the 3rd straight season the Pirates have handed out a long term extension to a player, with the team getting a deal done with Hayes before the 2022 season and Reynolds in April of 2023.
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