The Chicago Cubs get bad news on Pittsburgh Pirates trade targets Mitch Keller and Ke'Bryan Hayes, as MLB executives wonder if the Pirates won't sell at the trade deadline.

It is becoming almost certain that the Pittsburgh Pirates will trade Mitch Keller by the July 31 deadline. The Pirates will be sellers despite their 6-0 homestand that ended earlier this week. Sources both inside and outside the organization indicate that the Pirates are seeking to trade veteran players for younger ones.

The New York Mets have contacted the Pittsburgh Pirates regarding a potential trade for starting pitcher Mitch Keller after the Chicago Cubs initially registered interest, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.