Dallas Keuchel has agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. This will be the third different team in three years for the former Cy Young award winner. Keuchel will be 32 years old when the 2020 season begins.
BREAKING: Left-hander Dallas Keuchel and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2019
Jon Heyman also reports that the contract is worth $55.5 million over three years. There is a vesting option for a fourth year. If picked up, Keuchel will make a total of $74 million for the duration of the contract.
Keuchel White Sox deal: 3/$55.5M with a vesting 4th year that could take to 4/$74M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 22, 2019
2019 Season
Keuchel found his market in the 2018 off-season to be very slow. He reportedly turned down some low ball offers in hopes of landing a long term deal. That deal never came and Keuchel settled for a one year deal with the Atlanta Braves on June 6th, a few days after the deadline had past that tied his signing with draft pick compensation.
While it did take some time for the veteran left-hander to finally pitch in 2019, he seemed to be almost identical to his 2018 self. His 3.75 ERA was almost exactly the same as his 3.74 ERA in 2018. The major difference, however, was his FIP — it increased almost a full run to 4.72.
Keuchel still proved to be a quality starting pitcher with 8 wins and 2.0 WAR. However, his lack of velocity and the way more hitters have an uppercut approach do limit his potential. The lack of strikeouts is also a concerning factor, as his 7.3 K/9 ranks in the lower quarter of the MLB.
What Can Keuchel Provide?
It’s clear that signing the 2020 version of Dallas Keuchel is not the same as his 2015 Cy Young version. To be fair, that year is becoming the outlier in Keuchel’s career the older he gets. What Kuechel does provide is durability and innings during an era where pitchers struggle to get through five innings. He is still very much an elite ground pitcher as his 3.65 GB/FB indicates. There will be rough outings, but more often than not you can rely on Keuchel getting to the 6th inning and helping the bullpen throughout the long season.
With a full off-season, that includes a spring training, Keuchel should be a 2-3 WAR pitcher without much major variance. That still has a ton of value in today’s game and the lefty should age gracefully as well. It’s a low risk, unexciting signing but still altogether an effective one.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
