The San Diego Padres are already starting to look for ways to push the roster to overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Entering Saturday, the Padres were just one game behind the first place Dodgers.

Pitching is always an area teams are looking to improve, and the Padres are no exception. One way they could do it is by acquiring starting pitcher Mitch Keller from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As of Saturday, Keller has a 4.40 ERA with a 5.14 xERA. However, his FIP comes in at just 3.69, which indicates poor defense has caused Keller’s ERA to shoot up. Over the two last seasons, his groundball rate has declined significantly — a major reason why his stats have taken a dip this season and last season.

However, the Padres are set up to be much better defensively than the Pirates, and San Diego is known to get more out of its pitchers than other teams. That’s the case for the likes of Dylan Cease and even Joe Musgrove, who continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

Keller would have 3 1/2 years left of team control at the trade deadline, meaning the Padres would have to cough up a considerable amount to acquire him. However, the Pirates are showing no urgency to contend and could expedite the ongoing rebuild by getting a big return for Keller.

The Padres currently don’t have an elite farm system like they once did, a sign the club is moving toward being a contender. However, the conversation could start with 29-year-old Gavin Sheets as the Pirates are desperate for any sort of offensive boost.

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