There is an odd dichotomy with Mitch Keller this offseason. The veteran right-hander has significant value to the Pittsburgh Pirates in some ways, but not in others.

A significant portion of Keller's value stems from having three years and $57 million remaining on his five-year, $ 77 million contract. That is a lot of money for the cost-conscious Pirates, but many teams would be willing to pick up the contract of a pitcher who averaged 32 starts and 182 2/3 innings over the past three seasons.

However, many talent evaluators don't believe that Keller would net the Pirates a big haul in a trade and certainly not the middle-of-the-order impact bat they need after finishing last in MLB in runs scored this past season.

One team reportedly interested in trading for Keller is the Boston Red Sox. It is easy to look at the Red Sox's glut of outfielders and think they might part with left fielder Jarren Duran or right fielder Wilyer Abreu in a deal.

However, various baseball sources insist the Red Sox would not make a one-for-one trade with either player. The Pirates would likely have to add a significant pitching prospect or pay down Keller's contract to get the Red Sox to trade Duran or Abreu.

Keller's most significant value to the Pirates would be the $57 million they would save by trading him. They could redistribute that money to acquire a decent pitcher who would lend a veteran presence to a rotation that will again be led by National League Cy Young Award favorite Paul Skenes next season and possibly include such young right-handers as Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and Mike Burrows, as well as righty Johan Oviedo.

The Pirates could take the money saved on Keller, along with $30 million they saved when they traded Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds in July, and, for once, be legitimate buyers on the free-agent market. That's a big if, though, with Pirates owner Bob Nutting involved.

So, what would a potential Pirates-Red Sox trade look like with Keller involved? Here's one possibility:

The Pirates would get two prospects in middle infielder Mikey Romero and catcher Johanfran Garcia. MLB Pipeline ranks Romero as the Red Sox's eighth-best prospect and has Garcia at No. 28.

Romero, a 21-year-old left-handed hitter, batted .245/.300/.452 with 17 home runs in 111 combined games with the Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland this year. He was the Red Sox's first-round draft pick in 2022.

Garcia, 20, appeared in just 58 games this past season between High-A Greenville and the Rookie-level Florida Complex League as he recovered from knee surgery, hitting .261/.328/.464 with 12 homers. He is the younger brother of Red Sox outfielder Jhostynxon "The Password" Garcia.

It might not be the deal Pirates' fans are hoping for, but the rest of the league doesn't value Keller as highly.