The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract with free-agent reliever Brad Keller, pending a physical. Keller, who had a breakout season with the Chicago Cubs in 2025, will join the Phillies bullpen as a right-handed specialist. The New York Yankees had shown interest but lost out on the 30-year-old pitcher.
Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated on Tuesday that the team would pursue relievers before Spring Training. Less than 24 hours later, the Phillies secured right-hander Brad Keller on a two-year, $22 million deal, pending a physical, as confirmed by sources to MLB.com. FanSided’s Robert Murray first reported the agreement, with ESPN also noting the details.
Keller, 30, enjoyed a career year in 2025 with the Cubs, posting a 4-2 record, 2.07 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and .182 opponents’ batting average over 68 appearances, including one start. He struck out 75 and walked 22 in 69 2/3 innings, ranking 14th among 144 qualified relievers (minimum 50 innings) in ERA, 17th in opponents’ batting average and 20th in WHIP.
Previously a starter for the Kansas City Royals from 2018-23, where he made 114 starts, Keller underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in October 2023. He struggled in 2024 with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, averaging 93.8 mph on his fastball. Fully healthy in 2025, his four-seam fastball reached a career-best 97.2 mph, used 42.2 percent of the time. He complemented it with a slider (17.3 percent), sweeper (14.5 percent), sinker (14.4 percent) and changeup (11.7 percent), all generating swings and misses.
Advanced metrics highlighted his effectiveness: a 30.4 percent chase rate (76th percentile), 30.6 percent hard-hit rate (99th percentile) and 27.2 percent strikeout rate (80th percentile).
In Philadelphia, Keller will serve exclusively as a reliever, bolstering a bullpen that now includes closer Jhoan Duran, left-handers Matt Strahm, José Alvarado and Tanner Banks, and right-handers Orion Kerkering and Keller. The Phillies remain interested in re-signing free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto, with an offer already extended.
The New York Yankees had targeted Keller for their bullpen amid rotation injuries to Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt, but he opted for Philadelphia. The Yankees recently signed Ryan Yarbrough for flexible starter-reliever duties and continue seeking bullpen depth.