The level of production Brad Keller delivered for the Chicago Cubs last season came as a surprise. Invited to spring training as a non-roster player, Keller went on to finish the year as the most effective reliever in Chicago’s bullpen.
His agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday officially removed the possibility of a return to the Cubs and left a significant high-leverage opening in Chicago’s relief corps. While there are several potential paths the front office could explore, it is critical that their primary focus shifts to right-hander Pete Fairbanks as the best option to replace Keller’s impact.
Fairbanks has spent the past six and a half seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he has established himself as one of the more reliable late-inning arms in baseball. He has recorded more than 20 saves in each of the last three seasons, and across 267 appearances with Tampa Bay, he owns a strong 2.98 career ERA over 265 1/3 innings.
Beyond his results, Fairbanks brings the type of power arm Chicago is seeking. His average fastball velocity of 97.3 mph ranks in the 90th percentile, according to Statcast. That kind of high-end velocity was a key element Keller provided out of the bullpen, and Fairbanks would offer a similar presence. While his fastball does not quite match the 99.6 mph average of Cubs closer Daniel Palencia, it is still an elite, hard-throwing weapon.
Given the importance of stabilizing the bullpen, Chicago would benefit greatly from acting quickly to secure Fairbanks rather than being forced to settle for a less dependable alternative.