Chicago Cubs sign a 29 year old reclamation project
The Chicago Cubs have added a fair amount of reclamation projects to deals this off-season, with 29 year old Brad Keller being the latest.
www.chicitysports.comBrad Keller has been in the MLB news cycle as a bullpen/rotation option for teams like the Cubs and Phillies, with recent reporting focusing on contract moves and performance in 2025–2026. The strongest recent signal is that Keller signed a two-year, roughly $22 million deal with the Phillies, and is positioned as a setup reliever with starting‑pitching flexibility.[3][4][5]
Key takeaways you might care about:
- 2025 performance: Keller posted a strong relief season (approximately 2.07 ERA, 0.96 WHIP over 69.2 innings in the bullpen for the Cubs) which boosted his free-agent appeal.[3]
- 2026 role: With the Phillies, he is slated for a setup role behind closer Jhoan Duran, though his background as a starter could allow occasional starts if needed.[9][3]
- Injury/history context: He previously underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery (2013–2023 timeline referenced in various reports) and has been working to stay healthy and effective since returning in 2024–2025.[4]
If you want, I can pull the latest specific articles from today and summarize any new developments (e.g., contract status, team fit, or bullpen role changes) and provide brief quotes or stats.