Tigers interested in Brad Keller

[David Panian]

The Detroit Free Press is reporting the Tigers are interested in free agent pitcher Brad Keller:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/tigers-have-shown-interest-in-brad-keller-as-starter.html

Keller had a dominating season in a setup role for the Cubs last year, but the Tigers apparently are interested in switching him back to starting, which he did with Kansas City before he had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery between the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

I don't like this idea of switching guys between starting and relieving, but at least Keller has been a starter before. However, he's been better as a reliever.

I wonder if whoever is telling Evan Petzold that the Tigers are thinking of using relievers as starters really means they could be used as openers. That could make sense.

David

[Peter Welch]

Funny, I thought the Tigers should have taken Keller in the Rule V draft back in 2017.  He was available for the Tigers to draft that year and was regarded as the best pitching prospect available in the Rule V draft (along with righty Nick Burdi, whom I also wanted the Tigers to draft).

Keller was taken by the Reds with the 5^th pick and was traded to the Royals on the same day as the draft.  

The Royals kept Keller (who was 22 at the time) on their roster in 2018 and he had a 3.08 ERA in 41 appearances (20 starts) as a rookie.

The Tigers drafted OF Victor Reyes with the 1^st pick in the 2017 Rule V draft instead (Reyes was left unprotected by the Diamondbacks).

The Tigers kept Reyes on their roster in 2018 but he clearly wasn't ready for the majors.  Reyes was an impressive-looking athlete but never developed much as a hitter.

Keller has 10 WAR in his 8-year career.  Reyes had 0.8 WAR in his 4 years with the Tigers.  (Burdi has never stayed healthy and has 0.5 WAR in his MLB career.  He actually pitched in 5 games for the Red Sox this year).

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2025 12:33 AM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Tigers interested in Brad Keller

 

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[Michael W]

I think all of these "switching to a starter" comments are related to what Roger often says about the Tigers having a pretty complete rotation already.  With Skubal, Mize, Flaherty, Olson and Melton we've got 5.  But, we all know that three of them are leaving soon and that injuries are common.  You can't really stash competent free-agent starters at Toledo.  So, one tactic is to bring in some guys who might be convertible, and they can pitch in the bullpen until they are needed.  It might not work, but it makes sense.

Michael

[Roger King]

Yes, I think Harris is still working with the same strategy he had at the trade deadline: stock up on pitching and see who works out and who doesn’t.  As opposed to signing or acquiring one top-tier guy. Quantity over quality to a certain extent.  

What we aren’t seeing though is any articles linking the Tigers to specific hitters they might acquire. Other than ones like that ESPN piece I mentioned the other day where the writers speculated on a number of bats who could be available in trades and they list the Tigers as potential suitors. But not sure that’s based on anything other than their opinion.  In public comments, all I’ve mainly seen from Harris is an emphasis on pitching.

I just get the sense that despite hitting being the obvious weakness down the stretch that Harris thinks offensive improvement is going to come mainly internally.  Bringing back guys like Vierling, Torres & McKinstry limits the number of open roster spots, as we have discussed. I think Harris is banking on improvement from Keith, Tork, Greene (surely, they’re working with him to cut down on K’s?), Dingler etc. AND the eventual arrival of McGonigle & Clark.  

I can see the logic but I think it’s quite a gamble, especially in context of Skubal possibly leaving after this season.  But maybe Harris will surprise us this week at the winter meetings.

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[Peter Welch]

Speaking of Victor Reyes, he played in the KBO this year and hit .328/.386/.475 with 13 homers.  He was 4^th in the league in batting average.

Last year in the KBO he hit .352/.394/.510 with 15 homers.  He was 3^rd in the league in batting average.

Reyes was basically a AAAA player in the majors.  So when Reyes is finishing in the top 5 in BA in the KBO it shows the level of the best hitters being about AAAA players.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2025 10:34 AM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tigers interested in Brad Keller

 

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[Peter Welch]

Bringing Torres back is probably our "righty hitter signing".

I think Harris thinks Max Anderson and/or Hao-Yu Lee are going to be righty-hitting platoon options at 3B.

Harris probably sees some sort of platoon with Keith/Anderson/Lee/Vierling at 3B in 2026 (with McGonigle possibly coming along later).

There are still rumors the Tigers are interested in signing righty-hitting Alex Bregman, but I don't think we're signing Bregman for several reasons, let alone money, age, length-of-contract, and that he doesn't like hitting in Comerica Park.  

If the Tigers do sign Bregman then what happens to Keith?

I think Keith might be our best current trade chip.  I wonder if we could shop Keith (maybe in a package deal) for a righty-hitting 3B or CF who might be available, such as somebody who is blocked in another organization.

Looking at the currently available list of righty-hitting free agent hitters, I don't really see any righty hitters the Tigers would likely sign who play 3B or CF.  For example, I don't think the Tigers will sign Bo Bichette.  Too expensive.  I don't think they're signing Eugenio Suarez.

I suppose you could see them sign somebody like Harrison Bader to play CF on a short-term deal (until they think Max Clark is ready).

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2025 3:41 PM
To: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
Cc: Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tigers interested in Brad Keller

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[Cal Lord]

Trade Tork and put Keith at first.

Cal

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[Peter Welch]

I agree that Tork is a tradeable asset as well.

Peter

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From: Cal Lord <calst...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 1:25 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>

[Roger King]

Right on cue with my Saturday post below, here is Harris today saying the bulk of the hitting improvement is going to come internally.  

[Peter Welch]

Harris: "Those guys took a big step forward this year".  Actually, Greene and Carpenter took a step backward.

Peter

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Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 7:58 PM

To: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
Cc: Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tigers interested in Brad Keller

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[Roger King]

You can already see Harris just won’t think outside the box. We’ve got all these young players and I can’t part with any of them.  

I actually think there’s a possibility they won’t make *any* changes to the roster beyond this Anderson signing for the rotation and maybe a couple of minor bullpen additions.  Basically treating the Tigers incredibly poor play down the stretch when they blew a double digit division lead as some kind of fluke and not at all a reflection of needing to upgrade outside the organization at least a little bit. 

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[Peter Welch]

I'm guessing Harris thinks Greene took a "step forward" in that he hit more homers this year, but his increase in power seemed to come at the expense of more strikeouts and a lower OBA, plus he got worse against lefties.  Greene sold out for more power but became a less productive hitter.

No way did Carpenter take any sort of "step forward" this year.  He went from .932 OPS to .788 OPS.

Tork was the only one of the 3 who took a step forward, going from .669 OPS to .789 OPS.

Harris seems to be hoping that Greene, Carpenter and Tork will be better next year than in 2025.  There's no guarantee of that.  

Harris also seems to still have faith in Parker Meadows.  I'm not sure what to make of that.  Meadows has had one hot streak (August-September 2024) in his MLB career.  The rest of the time he's been replacement level.

Peter

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From: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Monday, December 8, 2025 10:37 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>

[Roger King]

Harris would probably say Meadows never really got going last year because of injuries… And he just turned 26 and there’s still room for improvement, etc. which could be an argument if it wasn’t in context of also naming Perez in those comments and re-signing Vierling.

Vierling has over 1600 career PA’s.  A .709 career OPS. 

Perez now has 808 PA’s. Also a career .709 OPS.

Meadows has less at 656 PA’s.  A .694 OPS. 

So they all give you kind of the same production which isn’t that great…and thinking you’re going to get great improvement out of *all of them* I think is wishful thinking. Keeping one of them is fine but I certainly don’t see any evidence they belong in the same conversation as Greene or Carpenter. 

I can buy that Greene will find a way to cut down on K’s and have a better overall season… And Carp could improve.  I think Tork is who he is: a low average power hitter. Certainly Harris is banking on big improvement from Keith. I certainly hope we get it because otherwise, I don’t really see where it’s going to come from. 

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[Peter Welch]

.694 OPS is probably about the high-end of what we can expect from Meadows even if healthy.

His hot streak in August-September 2024 was a fluke.

Peter

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From: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 8:22 AM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
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