While Chris Archer prepared to make his debut at PNC Park Friday, the Pirates' newest reliever was discussing his role with Clint Hurdle.
"I’m not really here looking for a role," Keone Kela repeated to reporters, his No. 35 jersey hanging in the locker stall behind him. "I just want to win." Kela converted each of his first 24 save opportunities with the Rangers prior to being traded early Tuesday morning, yet he won't supplant Felipe Vazquez as the Pirates' full-time closer.
Instead, Kela will be used in a variety of situations, possibly even in middle relief. After all, Kyle Crick and Edgar Santana have been outstanding in the eighth and seventh inning, respectively, and the Pirates have lost two long relievers in the past week. Following Tyler Glasnow's departure, Steven Brault was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis Friday and Dovydas Neverauskas was recalled.
Kela doesn't care if Hurdle's plan for the bullpen changes, either. The hard-throwing 25-year-old right-hander has one explicit goal: returning to the postseason.
"I was just happy I was able to come to a winning club with contention on the line," Kela said.
Kela had a 3.44 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 44 strikeouts to 14 walks in 38 appearances this season as the Rangers' closer. He's averaged at least 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings in each of his four seasons in the major leagues and is under contract through 2020. Kela's fastball averages 97 mph, complementing a 12-6 curveball that's produced a 42 percent whiff rate this season.
Shortly after the Pirates executed the trade — which sent pitching prospect Taylor Hearn and a player to be named later to Texas — Hurdle called Rangers manager Jeff Banister, a member of his coaching staff from 2011-14, to achieve a better understanding of what to expect from Kela.
Hurdle didn't want to know about Kela's skills on the mound. He was given an encyclopedia of information on Kela from the Pirates' scouting department. Instead, Hurdle peppered Banister with questions about how Kela responded to adversity and how he fit in the clubhouse. After all, Kela's role would change upon joining the Pirates.
Banister offered a glowing endorsement, Hurdle said. Kela heard his name in trade rumors in the days leading up to the non-waiver deadline. Although he admitted there was some angst given that he'd spent the past six years in the Rangers' organization, there was excitement to be leaving a last-place team for one in the heat of a playoff chase:
Shortly after learning of the trade in the seventh inning of a game in Phoenix, Kela called a former teammate to share the news: Jason Grilli. Grilli, who pitched briefly for the Rangers last season, welcomed Kela to Pittsburgh. Kela returned to Dallas, packed his bags and filled his car with his belongings before it was shipped north. He arrived Thursday afternoon, taking a stroll around downtown before resting up for his first official day of work.
Kela met with Hurdle for some small talk Friday afternoon and to discuss expectations. "He wants to find his way back to the postseason, as we do; it’s been a couple years for him," Hurdle said. "He’s paid attention and knows the bullpen out here’s had some success. He wants to capitalize on that success and add to it. You’ve got a guy that can pitch in any spot at any time. ... Definitely opened some things up and the other relievers I've spoken with are all open-minded to do what’s best for the club; however, I reaffirmed to all of them we’ve got a pretty good thing going right now the way it’s going. I’m not going to force anything."
Kela's held right-handed batters to a .125 average this season, and he's posted a 2.18 ERA in his past 21 games. The former 12th-round draft pick has averaged 11.03 strikeouts during his big league career and has experience pitching in almost every possible situation. Kela was used as a long reliever as a rookie in 2015 — appearing in three games during the ALDS against the Blue Jays that October — and was moved to the seventh in 2016 before becoming the setup man last season.
He was dominant in 2017, finishing with a 0.90 WHIP and 55 strikeouts to 17 walks in 38 2/3 innings. His success against right-handers will give Hurdle an interesting dynamic in the bullpen. If there are runners on base, Kela or Crick can enter to face right-handers, while Santana has held lefties to a .215 average.
Richard Rodriguez will now likely shift into a long relief role now that Glasnow and Brault are both off the 25-man roster. Brault walked five batters in three innings Friday night and had a team-high 46 walks. It's unclear whether he'll start for Indianapolis or be used as a reliever. Alex McRae, who posted a 1.60 WHIP as a starter in Triple-A, will also be asked to pitch in middle relief, while it's unclear how Hurdle will use Neverauskas.
Neverauskas has allowed 18 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings with the Pirates since making the opening day roster this season. However, the addition of Kela could address the issues in middle relief, as well as giving Hurdle one of the most formidable back-ends in the National League.
"I’m ready to go," Kela said.