Brad Keller Drawing “Significant” Interest as a Starting Pitcher After Breakout Bullpen Season.vc
Following a dominant 2.07 ERA campaign as a reliever for the Cubs, teams are now reportedly “intrigued” by the idea of converting the 30-year-old right-hander back into a full-time starter.
In one of the most interesting twists of the early offseason, free-agent right-hander Brad Keller is drawing significant interest from multiple teams not just as a high-leverage reliever, but as a starting pitcher.
Keller, 30, is coming off a “breakout” 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs where he emerged as one of the most dominant setup men in baseball. After signing a minor league deal last winter, he became one of the team’s “most vital pieces,” posting stellar numbers:
- 2025 Stats: 2.07 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 75 SO in 69.2 IP (68 appearances)
- Key Metrics: 27.2% Strikeout Rate, 56.5% Ground-ball Rate
- Role: He became manager Craig Counsell’s “most trusted leverage arm,” recording 25 holds and three saves.
Why Teams See a Starter
Despite his elite bullpen success, Keller’s profile has teams “intrigued” by his rotation potential. This is a common trend, following the successful conversions of pitchers like Seth Lugo, Reynaldo López, and Michael King.
The interest in Keller as a starter is based on several key factors:
- Extensive Experience: Before joining the Cubs, Keller was a full-time starter for most of his six seasons with the Kansas City Royals (117 career starts).
- Increased Velocity: As a reliever, his fastball velocity “jumped,” averaging 97.2 mph. Teams believe he could maintain a 94-95 mph average in a starting role.
- Deep Arsenal: Even in short stints, Keller continued to use a full, five-pitch mix (four-seamer, slider, sinker, sweeper, changeup), proving he has the arsenal to turn a lineup over.
Market Impact
This dual interest “significantly” impacts his free-agent value. While he was already projected to land a strong multi-year deal as a top setup man, the possibility of him signing as a starter has “baked in” a higher price tag. MLB Trade Rumors projected Keller could land a three-year, $36 million contract.
While no specific teams have been confirmed as frontrunners, insiders have suggested the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers as logical fits for a pitcher with his profile. A return to the Cubs is also possible, though it’s assumed they would prefer to re-sign him in the relief role where he thrived.
