Phillies’ bullpen crisis deepens as Brad Keller suffers season-ending UCL tear
Philadelphia’s acquisition of Brad Keller to bolster the setup role is now in jeopardy, with the team facing urgent roster adjustments ahead of the August trade deadline.
The Philadelphia Phillies have placed reliever Brad Keller on the 15-day injured list with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, a diagnosis that effectively ends his 2026 season. The club has recalled right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the vacancy, with the move made retroactive to July 13.
Keller, who was signed to a $22 million, two-year contract last December to serve as the primary setup man for All-Star closer Jhoan Duran, will seek a second opinion from specialist Dr Keith Meister. If the evaluation confirms the need for Tommy John surgery, the right-hander is expected to miss most or all of the 2027 season.
The onset of the injury was described as atypical by Keller, who noted he felt no specific moment of trauma during his outing against the Cincinnati Reds on July 8. He reported waking the following day with stiffness and soreness that did not subside, despite an initial MRI in June showing no tear. A subsequent scan confirmed the ligament damage.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly suggested the injury may have been exacerbated by Keller increasing his intensity in the weight room upon his return from a three-week stint for forearm tendinitis. Mattingly noted that while Keller appeared ready to pitch again, the subsequent deterioration in his arm condition set the current situation in motion.
The loss of Keller compounds existing concerns for the second-place Phillies as they approach the August 3 trade deadline. The club had already been anticipated to be active in the market to upgrade its bullpen, and this development is expected to make strengthening the relief corps their top priority.
