Pirates notebook: Edgar Santana off roster as pitcher Kyle Keller arrives in trade from Angels

The Pittsburgh Pirates exchanged right-handed pitchers Monday, acquiring Kyle Keller from the Los Angeles Angels for undisclosed cash considerations and designating Edgar Santana for assignment.

Keller, 27, was added to the 40-man roster and assigned to the Pirates’ alternate training site. He made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2019 and recorded a 3.38 ERA in 10 relief appearances. He also made two appearances for the Angels last season.

The Marlins drafted Keller in the 18th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.

Santana, 29, had been an effective relief pitcher under the Pirates’ previous regime, making 88 appearances in 2017 and ‘18 and recording a 3.31 ERA and 1.198 WHIP. He didn’t pitch in the majors the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“The fact that he hadn’t pitched in two years and we were able to get Keller, he just became a casualty to it,” Shelton said.

Of Keller, the manager said, “We like the fastball/curveball combo. High strikeout rate in the minor leagues (332 in 249 2/3 innings), and it gives us more depth this year and moving forward.”

Cahill’s turn

Pitcher Trevor Cahill, 33, is the oldest player on the active roster — a distinction he wrestled off 31-year-old catcher Jacob Stallings when he joined the team March 11 — but Shelton won’t burden him with off-the-mound duties.

Strikes and groundballs will suffice, starting Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark where he will become the fifth Pirates pitcher to start a game this season.

“Our expectation is for him just to cover innings and throw strikes and do just that,” Shelton said. “I don’t want to put any expectations in terms of veteran leadership.”

Shelton does like the experience Cahill can offer. He’s a veteran of 352 big-league games over 12 seasons for eight teams.

“The fact that he’s been around is helpful,” Shelton said. “He’s pretty light-hearted, which is good for our group.”

Cahill has pitched against all 30 teams in 32 ballparks. So he doesn’t appear concerned about Great American Ballpark and its reputation for giving up home runs. He’s allowed only two in eight games there.

“Hopefully, the mound still feels like 60 feet, 6 inches,” he said. “I’ve never pitched to a stadium. I’ve always pitched to my strengths with a little bit of hitters’ weaknesses sprinkled in, but never to a ballpark.”

Cahill only faced 15 batters in 3 2/3 innings in spring training games this year, but he’s done plenty of work that hasn’t been recorded in box scores.

“He’s stretched out more than (reporters) have seen just because of the fact that he threw on back fields,” Shelton said. “He’s stretched out four innings, plus. We can expect him to be stretched out probably where everybody else is at right now.”

Said Cahill: “I know my body. I think I’m in a good spot.”

Cahill admits it’s been difficult changing teams. The Pirates are his seventh since 2015.

“It’s tough. You never get that comfort factor with one team, but it’s also good because you get so many different ideas, opinions and ways about doing it. You can pick and choose a little bit.”

Rest of the week

Chad Kuhl, who started the opener in Chicago on Thursday, will work the 12:35 p.m. get-away game Wednesday in Cincinnati as Shelton turns over the rotation. Tyler Anderson, the No. 2 starter at the moment, will start the home opener against the Cubs on Thursday at PNC Park. Mitch Keller gets his second start Saturday against the Cubs.

Day off for Newman

After three games and three hits in 13 at-bats, shortstop Kevin Newman was out of the starting lineup Monday when the Pirates opened a three-game series in Cincinnati.

“We wanted to give (Erik Gonzalez) a start,” Shelton said. “The next three or four days, you’ll see all our starters at some point get a blow just because we’re playing 162.”

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