{"id":127408,"date":"2025-12-01T22:51:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T22:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=127408"},"modified":"2025-12-01T22:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T22:51:23","slug":"should-the-braves-target-this-former-cubs-2-07-era-reliever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=127408","title":{"rendered":"Should the Braves Target This Former Cubs&#8217; 2.07 ERA Reliever?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\">\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2223078116-e1763471494742.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2223078116-e1763471494742.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2223078116-e1763471494742.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2223078116-e1763471494742.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Should the Braves Target This Former Cubs' 2.07 ERA Reliever?\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" \/><\/figure>\n<div>\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<p>Could the answer for the Yankees pitching problem lie with the Cubs?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Atlanta Braves\u2018 bullpen remains the team\u2019s top priority this offseason. After re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million deal and signing Joel Payamps to a $2.25 million deal, Pierce Johnson is another player the Braves will have to decide on in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p>However, if the Braves want to compete again for the MLB playoffs in 2026, they will almost certainly have to head to the free agent market and make a few meaningful splashes. Although the bullpen will be the top priority, Atlanta could also use another infielder, a depth starter, and has a big free agency decision to make on Marcell Ozuna.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More MLB on Heavy: Phillies-Twins Trade Idea Lands J.T. Realmuto\u2019s Replacement<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Braves Named As Perfect Fit for Brad Keller<\/h2>\n<p>One interesting name to keep an eye out for this offseason is reliever Brad Keller, and he could be an affordable option for the Braves to make an attempt to sign.<\/p>\n<p>MLB.com\u2019s Mark Feinsand recently came out with an article that names a \u2018Perfect Fit\u2019 for all 30 MLB teams in free agency, and Brad Keller is the name for the Braves:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKeller had great success in a relief role with the Cubs in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA in 68 appearances. The Braves had success converting Reynaldo L\u00f3pez from a reliever into a starter, and Keller is a prime candidate to make that transition in 2026. Atlanta needs bullpen help, as well, so Keller would give the Braves options depending on how the rest of their offseason plays out.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5541466\">\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2240024705-e1760004644262.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" alt=\"Should the Braves Target This Former Cubs' 2.07 ERA Reliever?\" width=\"782\" height=\"440\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5541466\" data-lazy-load=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5541466\">(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)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Keller spent just one season with the Chicago Cubs, and the 30-year-old reliever is now in the open market.<\/p>\n<p>Thinking about it from the Braves\u2019 perspective, Feinsand explains it perfectly. Atlanta is really in the market for pitching help in general, so if they happened to want to transition Brad Keller into a starter role, that would also help the team with a chance to compete in a loaded NL East next season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More MLB on Heavy: Mets-Royals Trade Idea Sends All-Star Starter to Queens<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Brad Keller is Coming Off His Best Season As a Big Leaguer<\/h2>\n<p>Brad Keller is coming off his best season as a big leaguer in 2025. He is somewhat of a journeyman. Keller spent the first six seasons of his career with the Kansas City Royals, but posted a 4.27 ERA in 150 games pitched. Then he floated around with the White Sox and Red Sox in 2024, but did not find much success.<\/p>\n<p>This led to Keller signing a cheap deal with the Cubs in 2025, where he flourished and even emerged as one of Chicago\u2019s high-leverage options in September and October.<\/p>\n<p>Braves\u2019 GM Alex Anthopoulos should certainly consider making an attempt to sign Keller. After the productive 2025 season, his market is surely going to have some big spenders like the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, and Blue Jays, so this would be a time for the Atlanta Braves to enter a bidding war and get their guy.<\/p>\n<p>More Atlanta Braves on Heavy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>More Sports<\/h2>\n<p>Loading more stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Atlanta Braves need to address their bullpen before the 2026 season, could this Cubs reliever be a solid option to target?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":127409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Should the Braves Target This Former Cubs&#039; 2.07 ERA Reliever? 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