Cubs sign righty Brad Keller |
The Cubs and right-hander Brad Keller have reached a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp.
Of all the minor league deals this team has made thus far, this one comes with arguably the biggest upside, as Keller can pitch either as a starter or in relief. The now 29-year-old bounced between the minors and majors in 2024 and split time with the Red Sox and White Sox, going 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 16 games. He did, however, put up a much better showing in the minors, where he went 4-4 across 16 games (13 starts) with a 3.28 ERA. That alone is where the intrigue comes into play, as Keller has consistently shown the ability to be the perfect swing guy for any MLB roster. In his minor league career, Keller was about as solid as possible, going 47-40 with a 3.92 ERA. Again, not elite numbers by any means, but for a No. 4 or No. 5 starter, that is all you can ask for. It's the majors where he struggles, as Keller has never been able to live up to his potential on the big stage. After being drafted in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft, it took Keller five seasons to reach the majors, which he did in 2018. As a member of the Royals that season, Keller appeared in 41 games, including 20 starts, and went 7-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He did struggle at times with his command, but the overall success couldn't be ignored as he entered the 2019 season as one of the key pieces of the Royals rotation. That is when the wheels began to fall off for the right-hander. He went 7-14 that season in 28 starts, but with a 4.19 ERA, the results indicated how he pitched. Then came the 2020 COVID season, where Keller not only looked like a new pitcher by going 5-3 with a 2.47 ERA but also looked the part of a middle-of-the-rotation arm that the Royals could count on for years to come. That was never the case, as Keller combined to go 14-26 the next two seasons with a 5.21 ERA, followed by a 3-4 season in 2023. To say he has had his struggles along the way would be an understatement, as Keller is 38-57 in his MLB career. However, with a 4.34 ERA, he has pitched better than his record may indicate, and that is something the Cubs are hoping to build on as they head into spring. Even if he is a far cry from the guy who posted a 3.50 ERA across 78 games in 2018-2020, that alone is proof that there is some talent behind that right-handed arm. He struggled in the years following that run and dealt with a significant shoulder injury, so he has struggled to find his footing in an organization. When you look at some of the minor league options the Cubs have added, apart from Phil Bickford or Trevor Richards, Keller may have the highest upside even if his role isn't as defined as others. Capable of touching 95-96 during his prime years, Keller has seen a small decline in his fastball, now around 94 MPH. That is to be expected coming off his injury, but it shouldn't scare anyone away from giving him a minor-league deal. He makes up for his lack of velocity with movement, as his fastball comes with plenty of sink while having a solid change in his back pocket, which is a great secondary offering. Expected to be battling it out for one of the remaining spots in the Iowa rotation; it's unclear what the long-term plan is for Keller with the Cubs. Could he strictly be a AAA starter who is being used primarily as depth? Sure, but if he is someone you need to count on throughout the season, it may be a rough 2025. At the very least, adding Keller gives the Iowa roster another veteran pitcher to teach the young guys, and his flexibility in the roles he can perform will only help this team. This is another excellent depth signing for Jed Hoyer, even if the fans won't see it like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJafIJgbsUA
