Brad Keller Signs 2-Year, $22M Deal with Phillies

Brad Keller broke out as one of the best relievers in baseball last season with the Cubs, and he’s now reaping the rewards of that rebirth. After proving himself during spring training as a non-roster invitee, the big righty broke camp with the big club and never looked back. And though there was mutual interest in a reunion, the Cubs were unwilling to get close enough to the Phillies’ offer of $22 million over two years.

That’s the exact same deal righty Luke Weaver recently signed with the Mets, meaning the Cubs just saw two possible options fall off the board. It’s not surprising that Jed Hoyer wasn’t willing to pay $11 million annually for a non-closer, so this may not necessarily mean the Cubs are out of the running for a big-ticket addition.

It does, however, reinforce what we already know about Hoyer’s aversion to stretching beyond a prescribed value for a particular player or role. With an obvious need in the rotation and right-handed pop — or at least general offensive improvement — the Cubs may be hoping to complete their bullpen once the market settles.

They’re able to do that because they’ve already added Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, and Caleb Thielbar this winter. That gives them enough security to feel comfortable shifting bullpen needs to the back burner for the time being.