PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies took a measured step toward stabilizing their bullpen on Wednesday, agreeing to a two-year, $22 million contract with right-hander Brad Keller, a reliever coming off a quietly strong season with the Chicago Cubs. The deal, per a source, is pending a physical.
It isn’t the sort of signing that dominates an offseason cycle, but for a club that spent much of last year searching for reliable innings between the starter’s exit and the ninth inning, Keller represents something increasingly valuable: recent proof of effectiveness in a defined bullpen role.
Keller, 30, appeared in 68 games for the Cubs in 2025 and logged 69 2/3 innings, finishing with a 2.07 ERA. He struck out 75 batters, walked 22, and posted a 0.96 WHIP.
That performance marked a sharp contrast from earlier chapters of Keller’s career. A Rule 5 pick by Kansas City in 2018, he spent much of his time with the Royals moving between the rotation and bullpen, showing flashes of durability but struggling to maintain consistency. Subsequent stops with Boston and Chicago offered limited clarity until the Cubs committed to using him strictly in relief.
The results were immediate. Keller’s fastball velocity ticked up, his command improved, and his role simplified. Rather than pacing himself as a starter, he attacked hitters in short bursts, leaning on a fastball-sweeper combination that generated swings and misses and kept the ball on the ground.
For the Phillies, that profile fits a clear need. Their bullpen finished the 2025 season with strong back-end options but uneven middle relief, often forcing manager Rob Thomson to mix and match earlier than he preferred. Keller’s ability to handle both one-inning assignments and longer outings gives the club another dependable option when leverage arrives sooner than expected.
The contract itself reflects a level of confidence the Phillies have not frequently shown with non-closer relievers. Multi-year deals for bullpen arms remain risky by nature, but Keller’s age, recent usage, and underlying metrics suggest a pitcher who may be better suited for this phase of his career than any previous role he’s held.
Keller recorded three saves in 2025, though his value wasn’t tied to the ninth inning. He was often deployed in situations where contact needed to be limited and innings needed to be finished cleanly, regardless of the box-score label attached to the moment.
He now joins a bullpen group that already includes José Alvarado, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering, with Keller expected to slot into the late innings, potentially in a setup role for Jhoan Duran. If his 2025 form holds, he gives the Phillies something they lacked at times last season: predictability.
That, more than anything, explains the move. Not upside chasing or reinvention — just a team investing in the idea that the middle innings should no longer feel like a guessing game.
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