Brad

Keller

The deal is now official. Keller’s metamorphosis into an elite high-leverage reliever with the Cubs last season was fueled by a massive velocity uptick, which led to a sparkling 2.07 ERA — 2.93 FIP — 0.96 WHIP and 75/22 K/BB ratio across 69 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old journeyman fortifies Philadelphia’s setup mix leading to upper-echelon closer Jhoan Duran. He’s one of the few non-closing relief arms worthy of a roster spot in deeper mixed leagues.

Robert Murray of FanSided was first to report the agreement. Keller busted out as a top-flight reliever for the Cubs last season, posting a 2.07 ERA in 69 2/3 innings, so it’s not surprising to see him get this kind of money. The Phillies will have him help set up for Jhoan Duran.

Keller was excellent in 2025 with a 2.07 ERA and 75/22 K/BB over 69 2/3 innings, and has interest from teams both as a reliever and a starter on the open market. The Blue Jays have already added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to their group, but it appears they want more depth, and Keller could work either as a multi-inning option or starter in 2026. If he’s in the former, there’s very little fantasy value.

There have been reports throughout the off-season that teams were interested in making Keller a starter once again, and now we know at least one of those suitors. Keller hasn’t pitched as a full-time starter since his last season with the Royals in 2023. The 30-year-old hurler was terrific out of the Cubs’ bullpen in 2025, posting a minuscule 2.07 ERA and a 75/22 K/BB ratio over 69 2/3 innings. If he isn’t going to close, the next best thing for his fantasy value would be a move back to the rotation.

Sherman notes that several clubs are interested in shifting the 30-year-old hurler back to the rotation, while others are content with keeping him as a high-leverage bullpen arm. For fantasy purposes, unless he’s going to serve as a closer, it would be a boon to his value if he’s moved back to the rotation. Keller posted an outstanding 2.07 ERA and a 75/22 K/BB ratio across 69 2/3 innings for the Cubs during the 2025 campaign. The Cubs have already expressed interest in bringing him back for 2026, though they’re likely to face ample competition for his services on the open market.

Keller will have plenty of suitors and a healthy market this offseason after blossoming into a dominant high-leverage arm for the Cubs this past season, compiling a sparkling 2.07 ERA and 75/22 K/BB ratio across 69 2/3 innings over 68 appearances. The 30-year-old impending free agent, who made some mechanical tweaks this past season to unlock some additional velocity, will have plenty of fantasy appeal in drafts next spring, especially if he ends up back in Chicago to compete with Daniel Palencia for save chances or winds up elsewhere with a clear path to a ninth-inning role.

It was a remarkable bounce-back performance from Boyd, who managed to work into the fifth inning of a do-or-die affair for the Cubs after allowing just two runs in the opening contest of the best-of-five series. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw struck out six and allowed just two hits and three walks in this one as he and four relievers — Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and Caleb Thielbar — combined on a three-hit shutout at Wrigley Field to keep Chicago’s postseason hopes alive.

Keller issued a walk to load the bases in a 4-3 game in the eighth, but he was able to punch out Jake Bauers to escape the jam. He was able to breeze through the ninth to get the save as the Cubs staved off elimination for at least one more game.

It wound up being a battle of the bullpens in this one with Keller getting the call to protect a narrow two-run advantage in the final frame of Tuesday afternoon’s best-of-three series opener at Wrigley Field after Matthew Boyd, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz and Andrew Kittredge held San Diego to just one run on four hits and one walk through the first eight frames. The 30-year-old former cromulent swingman turned elite high-leverage specialist got Manny Machado to ground out and Jackson Merrill to fly out before freezing Xander Bogaerts with a called third strike to end it.

Palencia’s return provides a massive lift to Chicago’s high-leverage mix heading into the postseason after missing just over two weeks with a shoulder strain. It’s fair to wonder if veteran Brad Keller will continue to get save opportunities since he’s done a phenomenal job filling in during Palencia’s absence.