Yankees lose reliever Brad Keller to Phillies in MLB free agency

The Yankees will stay on the hunt for bullpen help.Free agent Brad Keller is in agreement with the Phillies on a two-year deal, ESPN.com reported.

The deal is still pending a physical.The Yankees were interested in Keller after his breakout season with the Cubs as a reliever, holding a 2.07 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 68 games.The righty was seen as a valuable starter or reliever in free agency, yet the Yankees were reportedly interested in him for the bullpen despite their need to add to the rotation.

The Yankees will start the season without Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt in the rotation.They signed Ryan Yarbrough with the intention to start him early in the season until Cole and/or Rodón return.

After that, they would work Yarbrough into the bullpen, as he has experience doing both.It was thought that Keller would fall into a similar role....