The Chicago Cubs have signed Brad Keller, who is mostly known from his time as a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. The right-handed pitcher had reportedly agreed to a contract with the Lotte Marines of the NPB in Japan last November, but that deal fell through and now the 29-year-old has signed on with the Cubs.
Cubs Insider writer Jacob Zanolla first reported the deal on Wednesday. Keller made 16 appearances in the majors last year, when he began the season with the Chicago White Sox and then joined the Boston Red Sox in late May.
Keller will be one of several pitchers on minor league deals that will be in spring training, competing for a roster spot with the Cubs.
The Chicago Cubs are nearing a minor league contract with RHP Brad Keller, per sources. He also receives an invite to Spring Training.
— Jacob Zanolla (@jacobzanolla) January 29, 2025
Originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, Keller made it up to the big leagues with the Royals in 2018. As a rookie, Keller split time in the bullpen and starting rotation, finishing the season with a 3.08 ERA in 140.1 innings.
From 2018-2020, Keller appeared in 70 games and posted a 3.50 ERA in 360.1 innings. Out of those 70 games, 57 were starts. Nothing was really dominant on paper, as Keller only recorded a 16.8 K% during that stretch, but he was able to limit major damage by producing a 52.1% ground ball rate.
However, things went south for Keller following 2020. The strikeout rate didn't improve much, he started to allow more home runs and more walks as well. He recorded a 5.39 ERA in 2021, 5.09 ERA in 2022 and in 2023 Keller only pitched in 11 games, missing most of the year with shoulder impingement syndrome.
The right-hander signed a minor league deal with the White Sox last season and made five total outings, including two starts. Keller had a 4.86 ERA in 16.2 innings before he was designated for assignment in May. The Red Sox then scooped him up, but Keller wasn't any better as a multi-inning reliever, posting a 5.84 ERA in 11 games with Boston.
I mean, Keller still gets a ton of ground balls, 52.8% ground ball rate in the past three seasons, so maybe that's what caught the attention of the Cubs.
One last note on Keller. You'll probably remember him from the time he hit White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson during a game in 2019. Anderson hit a home run, tossed his bat emphatically and then Keller drilled him. Keller was eventually suspended five games for intentionally hitting Anderson with a pitch.
In 720.1 innings in MLB Keller has a 4.34 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. Can he recapture his effectiveness from his early days? I guess we'll see what Keller has left in the tank during spring training and if he sticks around in the organization once the regular season begins.
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