At least 10 candidates for 2 spots? Heavy competition in Phils' bullpen

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Brad Keller thought he would be a Triple-A Iowa Cub on Opening Day 2025.

But, like Charlie Manuel says, baseball is a funny game.

Keller signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs in January 2025. He signed with the intention of starting. In fact, he stretched to three innings before Chicago approached him ahead of the Tokyo Series and asked if he would move to the bullpen. He said yes.

Suddenly, a long shot to make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster made the team.

Keller struck out one in a scoreless inning in the Phillies’ 5-3 victory over the Tigers in a Grapefruit League game on Wednesday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark. He will be Phillies closer Jhoan Duran's setup man this year, following a stellar season with the Cubs that earned him a two-year, $22 million contract with the Phillies.

“He looked great,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

Is there another Keller-type story in Phillies camp this spring? Perhaps.

There are six locks for the eight-man bullpen: right-handers Duran, Keller, Orion Kerkering and Jonathan Bowlan; and left-handers José Alvarado and Tanner Banks.

“They’re great dudes,” Keller said about his new bullpenmates. “Obviously, they’re nasty. It’s been fun, like watching them on the backfields, playing catch with them, watching games with them. Great guys. It just seems like it’s a really cohesive group down there already. I feel like we’ve already had banter with each other and, like, just talking about the season and getting ready for the season.”

But what about those other two bullpen spots? There are perhaps 10 or more legit candidates. Consider the relievers on the 40-man roster: right-handers Yoniel Curet, Nolan Hoffman, Seth Johnson, Max Lazar, Zach McCambley, Zach Pop and Chase Shugart; and left-hander Kyle Backhus.

McCambley is a Rule 5 Draft pick, so he’ll get a long look.

Pop is out of Minor League options, and players without options traditionally open camp with inside tracks for jobs. Pop pitched a scoreless inning on Wednesday.

“He’s been great,” Thomson said. “He’s been throwing strikes. The slider’s good. He’s got a bowling-ball fastball with heavy sink to it.”

Every other reliever on the 40-man roster has an option remaining, which gives the Phillies roster flexibility throughout the season.

But then look at the non-roster invitees with extensive big league experience: right-handers Jonathan Hernández (127 career appearances), Trevor Richards (295), Lou Trivino (332) and Bryse Wilson (163); and left-handers Tim Mayza (382), Génesis Cabrera (312) and Tucker Davidson (56).

Trivino and Mayza pitched for the Phillies last season, so there is familiarity there.

Richards has pitched for seven big league teams in his career. Last year, he signed with the Cubs as a non-roster invitee, like Keller, because he saw an opportunity to make the big league roster. It didn’t work.

This year, he said he didn’t choose the Phillies because he necessarily saw an opportunity in front of him. He said he chose the Phillies because he said he’s heard enough good things about their coaching staff and pitching development that he believes they can make him better.

“I think their pitching guys know what they’re doing,” he said. “I went in with the mindset of, ‘Who can make me better?’ rather than, ‘Where can I sneak on a team?’”

Backhus, Richards and Cabrera also threw a scoreless inning on Wednesday.

“We’re going to have some tough decisions at the end of this thing,” Thomson said.