Blue Jays Listed as ‘Best Fit’ for Pirates Right-Hander

The Toronto Blue Jays are the hottest team in the baseball at the moment.

Entering Friday, Toronto had overtaken the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros for the best record in not only the American League, but in all of MLB.

However, that doesn’t mean the team doesn’t need improvements prior to the trade deadline and a certain insider believes that could come in the form of a starting pitcher.

ESPNs MLB insider Jeff Passan recently listed Toronto as the “best fit” for Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller.

“With Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer headed to free agency after this season and Kevin Gausman following 2026, getting an under-control starter — such as Keller, who has three years at around $55 million remaining on his deal after this season — is a priority,” Passan wrote.

Keller would certainly be a welcome addition to a Blue Jays rotation that ranks 20th in team ERA this season.

Keller’s 4-10 record would suggest that he’s been atrocious this season, but that simply is not the case, as he’s fallen victim to bad luck and no run support.

He has a 3.53 ERA, good for 15th in the National League and 28th best in MLB. July has been Keller’s best month of the season, as he is 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA across four starts and 25 2/3 innings pitched.

As Passan mentioned above, Keller being under team control for several more seasons will warrant quite the return haul to Pittsburgh if it decides to move him.

Toronto doesn’t exactly have the greatest minor league system, so a trade for Keller may cost several of its top prospects in return.

If the Blue Jays have the assets to get a deal done, the addition of Keller to their rotation may cement them as the favorites in the American League.

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