The Phillies agreed to a two-year cope with free-agent right-hander Brad Keller, a supply advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Wednesday. The membership has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a bodily and will likely be value $22 million, in keeping with a report by The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.
Keller, 30, is coming off among the finest seasons of his eight-year MLB profession, a season through which he emerged as one of the crucial efficient relievers within the recreation for the Cubs. Whereas half of Keller’s 234 profession appearances had been begins and he mentioned each beginning and relieving with golf equipment this offseason, the Phillies plan to make use of him as a reliever, in keeping with MLB Community insider Joel Sherman.
He made 68 appearances for Chicago (all however one in reduction) final 12 months and pitched to a 2.07 ERA and a pair of.94 FIP with 75 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings. He additionally had a 0.96 WHIP and held opponents to a .182 common, each of which had been profession bests. That opponents’ common ranked because the fifth-best mark amongst major NL relievers with no less than 60 innings pitched, whereas the two.07 ERA ranked seventh-best.
2025 was Keller’s second season as a major reliever after spending five-plus seasons principally as a starter with the Royals, a tenure that ended after he underwent Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgical procedure in October 2023. When he returned from the damage the subsequent season, success didn’t instantly comply with.
Keller signed a free-agent contract with the White Sox for 2024, however Chicago granted him free company after simply 5 appearances. That led to a free-agent cope with the Purple Sox, however his time with Boston was additionally short-lived (11 appearances). In all, Keller went 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA between the 2 groups.
However he signed with the Cubs earlier than the 2025 season and, now absolutely wholesome, reworked himself into a serious a part of their bullpen. With a five-pitch repertoire that features a 97 mph four-seam fastball and three different putaway pitches (sinker, sweeper and changeup), Keller produced a powerful chase fee of 30.4 %. He additionally held batters to a 30.6 % hard-hit fee, which ranked in MLB’s 99th percentile, whereas his .204 anticipated opponents’ common was additionally amongst baseball’s greatest.
In the meantime, Keller’s 27.2 % strikeout fee was simply a profession excessive and nicely above the MLB common of 17.9 %.
Keller’s effectiveness was greatest on show through the second half. In a span of 28 appearances from July 18 by means of the tip of the common season, he allowed only one run (0.33 ERA) and held opponents to an .089 common.
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