PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Pirates are open to trading pitchers Mitch Keller and Jared Jones, according a report. 

According to KDKA’s news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates were open to trading Keller and Jones was deemed “very available” by a league source. 

The Post-Gazette reports that trading Keller would help trim payroll. Keller was signed to a five-year, $77 million contract extension and is set to make between $15 million and $20 million in each of the next four seasons. 

Post-Gazette sources indicated that trading Keller would ideally get a strong hitter in return. 

When it comes to Jones, the Post-Gazette says he would likely bring a much higher return, given his potential, league-minimum contract, and multiple remaining years of club control. 

Earlier this week, the team made a trade, acquiring first basemen Spencer Horwitz in a swap for Luis Ortiz and two pitching prospects. 

It’s unclear if that trade has any impact on Keller or Jones’ availability that was previously discussed ahead of the deal being finalized. 

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two Pittsburgh-area booksellers are among hundreds getting a $500 holiday bonus from best-selling author James Patterson. 

Carolyn Pallof at White Whale Bookstore in Pittsburgh and Weston Millar at Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley are two of the 600 booksellers receiving a holiday bonus from Patterson, according to the list on the American Booksellers Association’s website. 

This year Patterson pledged $300,000 to be distributed as part of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program, which he’s been doing since 2015, the ABA said. 

“It’s that time of year! Thank you to all the hardworking booksellers out there — and to everyone who submitted nominations,” Patterson wrote in a social media post. 

The Penguin Bookshop on Facebook congratulated Millar for winning the bonus. 

“Weston is an invaluable member of the Penguin team. You may not see a lot of him because he is managing our inventory behind the scenes. But he is always willing to step out front when need be and do whatever task might need to be done, whether it’s hanging lights, moving a heavy box or fixing a computer,” the bookstore wrote. 

James Patterson is the author of dozens of books, and according to his website, he’s donated more than 1 million books to students, $7.25 million to libraries and $2.1 million to independent bookstores and employees. 

“We are all so grateful for Mr. Patterson’s ongoing support of independent booksellers. His generosity is incredible, and his recognition of booksellers and the valuable role they play in the industry is especially meaningful to us,” American Booksellers Association CEO Allison Hill said on the national trade association’s website.