Breaking: Phillies Sign High-Leverage Reliever With 2.07 ERA

The Philadelphia Phillies have made a nice move to shore up the back end of their bullpen, signing starter-turned-elite reliever Brad Keller to a free agent deal.

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

It's a two-year, $22 million contract for the former Chicago Cubs, Red Sox, White Sox & Royals hurler.

This past season with the Cubs, the hard-throwing Keller posted elite numbers, both surface and under the hood. He posted a 2.07 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP in 69.2 innings pitched with 9.7 K/9. He held opposing batters to a .192 average and a .512 OPS.

Keller also ranked in the 99th percentile, per Baseball Savant, in limiting hard contact, the 94th percentile in average exit velo, and the 95th percentile in ground ball percentage. All pretty good indicators of a solid high-leverage arm near the end of games.

The 30-year-old was a starter for his first few years with the Royals, but transitioned into a hybrid role for a couple of seasons, before settling in as a full-time lock-down late-inning set-up man this past season.

He'll slot in behind Johan Duran and Jose Alvarado in a strong Phillies bullpen.