Pirates acquire RHP Kyle Keller, designate Santana for assignment

CINCINNATI -- The Pirates are swapping out one pitcher at their alternate site for another.

The club announced Monday that they had traded for right-hander Kyle Keller from the Angels in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the roster, Edgar Santana has been designated for assignment.

Keller was originally a 15th-round pick of the Marlins in 2015, and was traded to Angels for Jose Estrada in 2020. He has pitched 13 innings in the majors between the Marlins and Angels over the last two seasons, recording a 4.15 ERA, 12 strikeouts and 10 walks.

He will report to the Pirates alternate site in Pittsburgh rather than to the MLB team.

Keller has a three pitch mix, including a mid-90s fastball and a curveball that has averaged a slightly above average 2,600 RPM over his major league career. He's also tracked as throwing a forkball, and was the only pitcher to throw that pitch in the majors last year:

Keller will turn 28 on April 28. The Angels designated him for assignment on April 1 after he allowed five earned runs over 7 1/3 innings pitched this spring. He has one option year remaining.

For Santana, 29, this is yet another setback for the right-hander. After a promising start to his career, he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery in September of 2018 and missed all of the following season. He was busted for Boldenone, a performance enhancing substance, shortly before summer camp started last July, and had to sit out the entire season. While his suspension was for 80 games, the final 20 were waived since he missed the entire 60-game season.

He started strong this spring but was roughed up in the later half, allowing eight earned runs on 6 2/3 innings pitched. The Pirates optioned him on March 20.

“I think with the fact that he hadn't pitched in the last two years and we were able to get Keller, he just became the casualty of it,” Derek Shelton said about Santana.