The Boston Red Sox have brought back right-handed pitcher Brad Keller on a minor league contract, as reported by Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com on X. Keller, who had become a free agent earlier today, has quickly rejoined the Red Sox on a non-roster agreement.
At 29 years old, Keller is a seasoned veteran with over five years of major league experience, which grants him the ability to refuse minor league assignments. Earlier this season, he accepted an option to the minors but was recalled shortly after. He was optioned again but chose to explore free agency. Finding no satisfactory offers, he has returned to Boston under a minor league deal.
Keller enjoyed a solid stint with the Kansas City Royals earlier in his career, pitching 360 1/3 innings from 2018 to 2020 with a 3.50 ERA. During that period, he had a below-average strikeout rate of 16.8% but a solid ground ball rate of 52.1%, and his walk rate was around league average at 9.1%.
However, his performance declined in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with his ERA rising above 5.00 in both years. Last year, he made only 11 appearances before undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. This season, Keller has split his time between the Chicago White Sox and the Red Sox, compiling 37 1/3 innings with a 5.30 ERA, a 17.8% strikeout rate, a 7.7% walk rate, and a 49.6% ground ball rate.
The Red Sox strengthened their rotation before the trade deadline by acquiring James Paxton from the Dodgers, but Paxton recently suffered a torn calf muscle after just three appearances with Boston. Additionally, Cooper Criswell is currently on the injured list due to COVID but is expected to join the rotation once healthy, alongside Tanner Houck, Braya n Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Kutter Crawford.
Quinn Priester, who is on the 40-man roster, has struggled since being acquired from the Pirates, allowing 11 earned runs in just 6 1/3 innings at Triple-A. Wikelman Gonzalez, also on the 40-man roster, has a 5.93 ERA at Double-A and would need to bypass Triple-A to contribute to the major league team. Naoyuki Uwasawa and Jason Alexander provide non-roster depth, but Keller’s extensive major league experience may position him ahead of them for a potential call-up when needed.
