The San Diego Padres are already looking for ways to boost their squad and overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Padres were only one game behind the Dodgers for first place heading into Saturday. Pitching is always an area where clubs want to improve, and the Padres are no exception. One method they could accomplish this is to acquire starting pitcher Mitch Keller from the Pirates. As of Saturday, Keller had a 4.40 ERA and a 5.14 xERA. However, Keller’s FIP is only 3.69, indicating that poor defense has led his ERA to skyrocket. Over the last two seasons, his groundball rate has fallen dramatically.
a significant reason why his stats have dropped this season and previous. However, the Padres are set up to be far superior defensively versus the Pirates, and San Diego is recognized for getting more out of its pitchers than other clubs. That includes Dylan Cease and Joe Musgrove, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Keller would have three and a half years of team control remaining at the trade deadline, requiring the Padres to pay a significant sum to acquire him. However, the Pirates appear unconcerned about competing and might speed up the rebuilding process by receiving a large return for Keller.
The Padres no longer have an exceptional farm system, indicating that the club is on the verge of being a contending team. However, the talk might begin with 29-year-old Gavin Sheets, since the Pirates are eager for an offensive lift.
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