Pirates Notes: Keller, Pitching Pursuits, Lineup

Pirates righty Mitch Keller saw his season end on Aug. 2 with a teres major strain that wound up being more severe than was originally known. Keller hit the 60-day IL in early August, but it didn’t come out until after the season that he’d suffered a Grade 3 strain, which entailed the teres major muscle completely detaching from the bone. He remarkably did not require surgery.

General manager Ben Cherington said at this week’s GM Meetings that the Bucs have been conducting in-person visits with members of the roster to discuss offseason plans (link via Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Keller’s visit revealed the right-hander to be “basically recovered” after more than three…