The Philadelphia Phillies have experienced a somewhat intriguing offseason to this point. Their $155 million commitment to Kyle Schwarber raised eyebrows given his role as a full-time designated hitter, while the one-year, $10 million deal for Adolis García was met with a fair amount of skepticism.
However, their following move flew more under the radar and earned far more approval. Philadelphia’s decision to sign reliever Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million contract was widely viewed as a smart piece of business, effectively filling the right-handed setup role the team had been trying to address.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield was particularly impressed with the addition. When grading the move, Schoenfield awarded the Phillies an “A-” for bringing in Keller on this deal.
Phillies earn strong ESPN praise for Brad Keller’s $22 million contract
“This could wind up being one of the quiet best signings of the offseason,” Schoenfield wrote.
Keller presents an intriguing case. Once a starting pitcher who endured uneven stretches with the Kansas City Royals, he reinvented himself in 2025 as one of the top right-handed relievers in baseball.
His velocity increased by a few miles per hour, and he posted a stellar 2.07 ERA last season, holding opponents to a .171 batting average while delivering a dominant overall performance. Those numbers made Keller one of the most compelling pitching options available this winter.
Opinions differed on his future role, with some teams viewing him as a potential starter and others as a bullpen arm. The Phillies are expected to deploy Keller as a setup man ahead of Jhoan Duran, though they could also consider using him in the rotation early in the season while Zack Wheeler works his way back from injury.
Regardless of how he’s ultimately used, Schoenfield spoke very highly of the value of the contract Philadelphia handed out.
“At two years and $22 million, this would be a bargain if Keller repeats what Holmes did for the Mets — a 3.53 ERA and 1.9 WAR,” Schoenfield wrote. “And at worst, the Phillies still get a high-leverage reliever.”
If Keller develops into a reliable starter at $11 million per year, the deal would be an enormous bargain. Even if he settles into a setup role for Duran in 2026 and 2027, matching his 2025 production would still make the contract a steal.
While the Phillies may not have delivered a headline-grabbing move this offseason, the Brad Keller signing stands out as one of the smartest deals made by any team. Schoenfield’s “A-” grade reflects just how well-regarded this move has become.