The Pittsburgh Pirates have locked another key player to a long-term contract. The franchise announced earlier this week that they have agreed to a new deal with right-hand pitcher Mitch Keller.
The Pirates said that the extension ties Keller with the franchise throughout the 2028 MLB season but didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement.
Reportedly, Keller’s deal is worth $77 million and kicks in this year, making it a five-year extension. His annual salary will exponentially rise throughout the deal until it reaches $20 million in 2028.
The news about his new contract comes just a few days after Keller was named the Opening Day starter for the Pirates. This will be the second year in a row that he’s the first Pirates pitcher on the mound at the start of the new season.
“This is a great day for the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement released by the team. “The intangibles that Mitch brings, in terms of head, heart, commitment, attitude, and leadership, really make a huge impact not only on who we are now as a team but who we will be as we move forward. Having known Mitch for nearly 10 years, to watch him grow as a player and person has been a privilege.”
Mitch Keller was drafted by the Pirates in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of high school. He made his debut in the majors in 2019 and has since started 100 games and posted a 25-38 record with a 4.71 ERA and 521 strikeouts. Keller had his best campaign in MLB in 2023, having a 13-9 record and earning an All-Star nod.
