CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 5: Brad Keller #40 of the Chicago Cubs walks off after giving up five runs during the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 5, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays have had a strong offseason to this point and are expected to continue to stay active as the winter months progress. After signing starters Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the wishlist for Toronto is getting small; however, they must continue to keep up with other AL East foes like the Red Sox and Orioles, who appear to be all-in this offseason as well.
A recent report suggests that the Blue Jays will continue to add and be in the free agency sweepstakes for reliever Brad Keller, who recently played with the Chicago Cubs.
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Should the Blue Jays Sign Brad Keller?
Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of SportsNet report that the Blue Jays are open to adding more starting options, and Brad Keller may be a name they pursue.
Toronto will have to make starting pitching decisions either way, as they currently have Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, and Eric Lauer as options on top of Cease and Ponce.
Keller is sort of a Swiss Army knife for wherever he ends up because of his flexibility to either start or be deployed out of the bullpen. However, his first real success in MLB came this year as purely a reliever. He came up with the Kansas City Royals back in 2018, and in seasons where he started 22+ games, Keller’s ERA was 4.19, 5.39, and 5.09.
(Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)Brad Keller #40 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after the final out in game three of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
After just 27 total appearances in 2023 and 2024, the Cubs took a flyer on him last offseason, and it paid off. He served as a high-leverage arm for Chicago for the back half of the 2025 campaign. The journeyman posted a 2.07 ERA in 68 games and struck out 75 batters.
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What Is Brad Keller’s Market?
It is expected that many MLB contenders will likely be in on Brad Keller, but he himself has expressed interest in staying with Chicago. However, the Blue Jays have been among MLB’s highest spenders in the last couple of seasons, and after falling just short of a 2025 World Series title, that isn’t expected to stop.
According to Spotrac, Brad Keller’s value is three years and $3.8 million.
BaseballReference.com also has Keller projected to post a 3.68 ERA over 66 innings and 62 strikeouts in 2026.
It’s become quite common across MLB for relievers who have found success to be transitioned into a role where they are a little more stretched out.
The brightside that he could find more success as a starter is based upon the fact Keller might have some newfound confidence after a fairly successful season. It’s also an opportunity to hold a higher value in the market.
Keller has a career 4.14 ERA over 790 innings and 613 strikeouts.
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