The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Kyle Keller from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, Edgar Santana has been designated for assignment. Keller has been optioned to the alternate training site.
Keller has seen brief big league time in each of the last two seasons, pitching ten games for the 2019 Miami Marlins and two games for the 2020 Angels. He has pitched just 13 big league innings, putting up a 4.15 ERA/7.13 FIP, with a 1.39 WHIP and a 10:12 BB/SO ratio. He allowed five runs over 7.1 innings this spring. He was an 18th round draft pick in 2015 out of Southeastern Louisiana University, He has put up solid stats in the minors, with a combined 3.53 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 249.2 innings, with 332 strikeouts. According to Fangraphs, he’s a fastball pitcher in the 95 MPH range, with a low-80s curve and a seldom used changeup.
Santana missed the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery and the 2020 season due to a suspension. He pitched winter ball in the Dominican and allowed two runs over 5.2 innings in six outings. This spring he gave up eight runs in 6.2 innings.
