Pirates avoid arbitration with 5 players, including Keller
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates have agreed to deals with their five remaining arbitration-eligible players, a source told MLB.com on Thursday, a list which includes All-Star pitchers Mitch Keller and David Bednar. The deadline for arbitration agreements was 1 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Per source, the agreement values were as follows:
- Keller: $5,442,500
- Bednar: $4,510,000
- JT Brubaker: $2,275,000
- Connor Joe: $2,125,000
- Edward Olivares: $1,350,000
Keller was due a good raise after setting career highs in wins (13), games started (32), innings pitched (194 1/3) and strikeouts (210) en route to his first All-Star Game appearance. He's also one of the most likely extension candidates on the team right now, so 2024 could be a huge deciding year in terms of his long-term fit with the Bucs. Keller is set to be a free agent after the '25 season.
Bednar got a big pay bump -- and for good reason. He has been one of MLB's best relievers over his three seasons with the Pirates, posting a 2.25 ERA with an 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings rate in 172 games. Bednar became the Bucs' full-time closer in 2023, nearly doubling his saves total from 2021-22 (22) when he notched 39 last season, which led the National League.
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Brubaker will make the same salary as last season after missing all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. He has a career 4.99 ERA in 63 games (61 starts) for the Pirates, including a 4.69 ERA in 28 starts during the 2022 season, when he was named the Opening Day starter. Brubaker said he's hoping to return to the big league team near the All-Star break.
Joe proved to be a versatile option for Pittsburgh in 2023, spending at least 32 games at first base, right field and left field. The 31-year-old had a .760 OPS in his first season with the Pirates and tied Ke'Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds for the team lead in doubles (31).
Olivares was acquired this offseason from the Royals for Minor League infielder Deivis Nadal. He's a controllable corner outfielder who has shown flashes of pop, including a career-best 12 homers in 107 games last season for Kansas City.
The team previously agreed to a $1,600,000 deal with reliever Ryan Borucki in November.