Chicago White Sox Sign Former Kansas City Royals Pitcher Brad Keller to Minor League Deal
The Chicago White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Brad Keller to a minor league contract, the team announced Friday afternoon.
Keller’s deal comes along with an invitation to the rest of Chicago’s major league Spring Training camp in Glendale, Arizona.
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The 28-year-old spent the past six seasons with the Kansas City Royals, who picked him up from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft.
Keller burst onto the scene in 2018, going 9-6 with a 3.08 ERA and 4.2 WAR across 140.1 innings as a rookie. His ERA crept up to 4.19 in 2021, but he slashed it to 2.47 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
At that point in his career, Keller owned a 3.50 ERA, 1.285 WHIP and 9.0 WAR.
Over the next few years, though, Keller’s production started to drop off. From 2021 to 2023, Keller posted a 5.14 ERA, 1.629 WHIP and 0.2 WAR.
Keller exceeded 130 innings pitched in both 2021 and 2022, but shoulder injuries limited him to just 45.1 innings in 2023. The righty hit the 15-day injured list with with right shoulder impingement syndrome in May, and his numerous rehab attempts were largely fruitless.
Two games after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list in September, Keller was sidelined once again with thoracic outlet syndrome. Given that he is set to join the White Sox in Spring Training camp, Keller is likely a full-go six months down the line.
Keller cashed in on solid deals during his arbitration years, making $13.95 million over the last four seasons. In 2023, Keller’s salary was $5.775 million. He won’t be making anywhere near that with Chicago, as he isn’t even guaranteed a role in the big league pitching staff.
Whether Keller is able to make the White Sox’s Opening Day roster, or if he is best utilized as a starter or reliever at this point in career, remains to be seen.
