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Phillies’ Keller sidelined with UCL tear, surgery undecided

7/17/2026

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Summary

Brad Keller Injury

Brad Keller was placed on the injured list Thursday with a torn right UCL.
He will see Dr. Keith Meister for an opinion before deciding on surgery that could keep him out until 2027.
Keller signed a $22 million contract and posted a 4.02 ERA with 32 strikeouts this season.
Phillies manager Rob Mattingly said the team will add left-handed relievers before the Aug. 3 deadline after recalling Seth Johnson.

Summary

Brad Keller Salary

The Phillies will owe pitcher Brad Keller $11 million for 2027 despite his likely absence.
Including the $7 million already paid for 2026, the guaranteed salary limits flexibility as the club nears a possible CBA payroll ceiling.
Experts say Keller’s UCL tear likely requires Tommy John surgery and a 12-14-month rehab, which may curb trade-deadline bullpen moves for a team now 54-43 and in the second NL Wild Card spot.

Summary

Mattingly Trusts Bullpen

Manager Don Mattingly said the team is comfortable with the bullpen after Keller’s injury, relying on depth.
The bullpen fell from 25th (5.21 ERA) on June 1 to 29th (8.05 ERA) in July, walking 5.45 per nine.
Jonathan Bowlan, acquired for Matt Strahm, posted three holds in 4 1/3 scoreless innings before the All-Star break and struck out six.

History

Historical Context

In 1974 Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar-collateral-ligament reconstruction on Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, showing a career-ending injury could be reversed. The surgery soon became routine, with about one-third of MLB pitchers having it by the 2010s, making it a major financial and roster factor. Today the Phillies weigh Brad Keller’s $22 million contract against that 1974 breakthrough.

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Brad Keller Injury

Brad Keller was placed on the injured list Thursday with a torn right UCL.
He will see Dr. Keith Meister for an opinion before deciding on surgery that could keep him out until 2027.
Keller signed a $22 million contract and posted a 4.02 ERA with 32 strikeouts this season.
Phillies manager Rob Mattingly said the team will add left-handed relievers before the Aug. 3 deadline after recalling Seth Johnson.

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