Brad Keller quietly became a key Cub—and wants to run it back

The Chicago Cubs have plans to upgrade their pitching staff this offseason, and while that could be tied to the fact that the team lacks power pitching, a significant amount of their bullpen is without a contract for the 2026 season. At the top of that list is Brad Keller, who inked a minor-league contract with the Cubs last offseason but emerged as the closer for Craig Counsell's bullpen in the playoffs.

The Cubs made Keller a priority as spring training approached, and the 30-year-old returned the favor by posting a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances out of the bullpen during the regular season. In the playoffs, despite a shaky outing against the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card round, Keller was nails, posting a 1.59 ERA in 5 appearances.

Brad Keller's Chicago future is unclear—but he wants it to continue

Keller's free agency will be a curious case for the Cubs' front office. Typically, under Jed Hoyer, the Cubs haven't been shy about relievers leaving in free agency, even if they had success with the team. The logic is that the Cubs feel that they can either find another reclamation project and turn that into success, or convert one of their pitching prospect into their next high-leverage reliever.

There should be an exception to that approach, and it would seem that Keller made the case to be that for the Cubs this offseason. For his part, Keller is hoping to return to the Cubs next season.

“Chicago is my favorite city,” Keller said. “I love being in Chicago. I love playing for the Cubs. This is definitely a place that I want to come back to and enjoy. I know a lot of these guys are returning to this clubhouse, and I feel like there’s something special here. I would love to be a part of it, for sure.”

If there were to be an offseason where the Cubs reward a relief pitcher, it would be this one. Of all the high-leverage relief pitchers the Cubs used in the bullpen, Daniel Palencia is the only one certain to be back next season. In other words, there is a clear path for Keller to return to the Cubs.