The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract with relief standout Brad Keller. Coming off a 2.07 ERA season, Keller adds depth and strikeout punch to the back end.
The Philadelphia Phillies are continuing to cement their offseason pitching plans, agreeing to a two-year, $22 million contract with veteran right-hander Brad Keller, sources report.
The deal, which is pending a physical, marks one of the club’s first meaningful bullpen upgrades this winter and follows high-profile additions like Adolis GarcÃa in the lineup.
The Phillies and Brad Keller are in agreement on a 2-year, $22 million contract, per multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/T8kcwyCH1E
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) December 17, 2025
Keller, 30, arrives in Philadelphia after a career-best 2025 campaign with the Chicago Cubs, where he posted a 2.07 ERA and 2.93 FIP over 68 appearances, all but one in relief, and struck out 75 batters in nearly 70 innings.
His strong numbers against right-handed hitters (.148 batting average allowed) highlighted his emergence as a high-leverage bullpen weapon.
A New Role for a Converted Starter
A former starter with the Kansas City Royals and later stops with the White Sox and Red Sox, Brad Keller has reinvented himself as a bullpen force.
According to his MLB career history, he has 234 MLB appearances, including 117 career starts early in his career, but it was last season’s relief work with the Cubs that vaulted him into free-agency prominence.
The Phillies just signed a stud.
Brad Keller 2025:
69.2 IP, 45 H, 2.07 ERA, 2.93 FIP, 0.962 WHIP, 22 BB, 75 K
What a massive add to the pen
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) December 17, 2025
Philadelphia’s use of Keller is expected to remain squarely in the bullpen, particularly in high-leverage middle and late innings. With closer Jhoan Durán locked in as the shutdown ninth-inning option, Keller gives the Phillies another late-game arm capable of bridging from the starter to Durán.
He’s likely to compete alongside or ahead of other right-handed relievers such as Orion Kerkering, José Alvarado, and Matt Strahm for leverage spots.
Across the league, relievers with Keller’s blend of past starting experience and recent bullpen dominance are increasingly prized for both matchup flexibility and durability, a key reason why multiple clubs, including the New York Yankees, reportedly showed interest before he chose Philadelphia.
Why This Matters for the Phillies
For the Phillies, adding Brad Keller addresses a longstanding need: a reliable right-handed arm to work ahead of Durán in tight innings.
Philadelphia’s bullpen had notable volatility in 2025, and the front office has made relief upgrades a priority after re-signing closer Jhoan Durán and building around a core that already includes Orion Kerkering and José Alvarado.
Keller’s emergence as a reliever also boosts the club’s overall strikeout profile. His 75 strikeouts in 69.2 innings gave him a strikeout rate above one per inning, a valuable trait when setting up late-inning matchups or entering with runners on base.
LOOK AT THE RED
Welcome to Philly, Brad Keller! pic.twitter.com/E0Wh1SlhkX
— The Good Phight (@TheGoodPhight) December 17, 2025
His improved velocity and optimized pitch mix last season helped make that possible, and Phillies coaches will look to continue refining his arsenal.
The two-year term gives Philadelphia control through the 2027 season, balancing immediate bullpen strength with future roster flexibility.
In an NL East that continues to tighten each offseason, every bit of high-leverage depth counts, and Keller’s addition could prove pivotal if the Phillies make another deep October run.
Looking Ahead
Keller’s deal brings a proven late-inning arm into a bullpen that already projects as one of the stronger units in the National League.
With a combination of strikeout ability, right-handed leverage oomph, and postseason experience, he strengthens Philadelphia’s pitching staff just as the club balances significant offensive additions.
The focus in spring training now shifts to how the Phillies deploy Keller in key moments, how quickly he meshes with a new coaching staff, and whether the jump from breakout reliever to consistent late-inning threat can translate into October success.
