Pittsburgh Pirates plan to trade Mitch Keller and Jared Jones

In Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Pirates have expressed a willingness to trade two of their pitchers, Mitch Keller and Jared Jones. These discussions were reported by KDKA and sourced from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently. The potential trade comes amidst a backdrop of strategic team adjustments, with Keller's hefty contract extending for four more years at a considerable annual cost between $15 million and $20 million. A trade involving Keller would aim to ease payroll constraints while seeking a strong hitter in return, indicating the team's focus on balancing its financial commitments and enhancing its offensive capabilities. In contrast, Jared Jones is considered a highly valuable asset due to his potential and favorable league-minimum contract, making him likely to yield high returns for the team if traded. The conversations surrounding these trades were noted to be separate from the team’s recent acquisition of Spencer Horwitz. This trade involved Luis Ortiz and two pitching prospects swapping places in a bid to bolster their roster ahead of the upcoming season. It remains unclear how this recent transaction affects the negotiation strategies for Keller and Jones. The looming trades underline the Pirates' intentions to strategically position themselves in future seasons by optimizing their roster and financial commitments, reflecting a mix of immediate fiscal responsibility and long-term planning for team success.