Brad Keller's projected payday doesn’t match Cubs' current trajectory

Jed Hoyer was ready to go to extraordinary lengths to land Tanner Scott last offseason, but the left-hander took less money to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. That turned out to be a huge stroke of luck for the Chicago Cubs, at least for one season, as Scott struggled - and Hoyer's bet on a trio of reclamation projects worked better than anyone could have hoped.

Granted, the Ryan Pressly trade - like the Hector Neris addition before it - was an abject failure, but the work of Caleb Thielbar, Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller was unquestionably impressive. Now, all three will hit the open market, looking to turn their 2025 successes into paydays on the open market.

For his part, at least, Keller wants to come back to the Cubs. And, really, why wouldn't he? The 30-year-old right-hander delivered a breakout performance in Chicago this year, establishing himself as a reliable late-inning weapon, appearing in a team-high 68 games and working to a 2.08 ERA/2.94 FIP. But for him to call Wrigley Field home again in 2026, Hoyer and the Cubs' front office will have to do something they've historically shied away from: give a reliever a multi-year deal.

Cubs will face stiff competition for Brad Keller in free agency

In his latest piece at The Athletic (subscription required), Jim Bowden lists the Cubs among the best team fits for Keller's services, along with several other teams in need of bullpen help, including the Dodgers, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Cardinals, Tigers and Astros. The bad news? He sees a two-year deal for Keller. The good? It's a palatable $15 million sum all-in, something Chicago is more than capable of delivering.

Hoyer hitting on so many bounceback candidates last winter had its obvious advantages, namely a cost-controlled relief corps, but the downside is he's more or less starting from scratch this winter, with Daniel Palencia basically the only major piece returning next year. Bringing Keller back early in the offseason, before a team like the Dodgers can swoop in and lure him away, needs to be a top priority.

That move would not only give manager Craig Counsell a pair of late-inning weapons in Keller and Palencia, but allow the front office to round out the group with lower-profile signings throughout the winter - while starting from a far more stable position than the club found itself in this time last year.