Pittsburgh Pirates Sign Star Player To Multi-Year Extension: Reports

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed All-Star pitcher Mitch Keller to a five-year contract extension. The deal is worth $77 million, MLB.com. reported.

Keller, 27, was the Pirates opening day starter last season and was selected to his first All-Star Game. He led Pirates starters in wins with 13, innings pitched with 194, and had 210 strikeouts - the most ever for a Bucs right-handed pitcher.

Keller was a second-round pick in 2014 and is a five-year major league veteran. He has a career record of 25-38 with a 4.71 earned run average.

Keller is the presumed starter when the Pirates open the season on March 28 in Miami against the Marlins.

He possibly will give the Bucs a potent one-two pitching punch later in the season when starting pitcher Paul Skenes, the first choice in last year's Major League Baseball draft, is expected to join the team.