There is a Cy Young pitcher looking for work. He not only is a Cy Young pitcher, but a former world champion who can pitch on the big stage. His name is Dallas Keuchel, and he is the second of the big free agents still unsigned heading into the second weekend of the MLB season. Keuchel is another potential game-changing player who instantly upgrades any starting rotation.
What Keuchel Wants
Pitchers get hurt and often spend time on the injured list. Having depth is always a good thing, so it’s strange that a player of his caliber is still on the market. So what does Keuchel want? In the offseason, it was rumored he was looking for a five-year deal, and with agent Scott Boras, the dollars must have been high. Most teams are scared of giving big money to a 31-year-old pitcher who will be most likely declining as the contract runs out. Will Keuchel take a one-year deal and start the process all over again next offseason? Or, will he wait for a team to suffer a huge season-ending injury in their rotation and get multiple years in a contract?
Who is Interested?
As expected, a lot of teams are rumored to be interested in Keuchel, and why wouldn’t they be? He can make a difference this season for any contending team. Factoring in how often pitchers get injured or suffer dead-arm periods, it makes sense to have another starting pitcher. Keuchel is not a minor league pitcher, and he won’t accept anything more than a couple of rehab starts in the minors. He is rumored to be throwing simulated games, so it appears only a couple of starts will be needed.
Free agent Dallas Keuchel is throwing 95-pitch simulated games every five days, agent Scott Boras told me this evening. “We are in discussion with a number of clubs,” Boras said. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 29, 2019
Who Are the Rumored Teams?
Houston Astros
Let’s start with the former team. The Astros are World Series contenders and chose not to resign him, most likely because of having to resign their young core first. With top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley on the horizon, perhaps they felt Keuchel was not needed anymore. They previously offered one- and two-year deals to Keuchel, but he was not interested.
#Astros have made both one- and two-year offers to free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel, sources tell The Athletic. Offers not in range Keuchel is seeking. Desired terms not known.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 7, 2019
New York Mets
It is well-known the Mets are built around their starting pitching. The injury history around all of their starting pitchers is also well-known. In addition, Jason Vargas has not exactly pitched well in his one-plus year with the team. New general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has stated that he wants to win this year. He has reportedly been kicking the tires around Keuchel as he should. Could Van Wagenen strike and make a huge signing for the Mets?
The Mets are *still* in touch with Dallas Keuchelhttps://t.co/CrqE6gT14O
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) April 3, 2019
Philadelphia Phillies
With the money the Phillies spent this offseason, this team has to win. So why stop now? This team can certainly use an upgrade to their rotation. In fact, it’s the only part of the team that was not improved during this past offseason. The Phillies were talking to Keuchel during their spending spree, yet it appears that even for a team that had said they were going to spend “stupid money,” his contract demands were just a little bit more than they wanted to spend.
Astros understandably like their team but they’re said still in touch with Dallas Keuchel, who received 3 calls the day Harper got done. Phillies are also in and could solidify their favorite status by importing star lefty, tho with prospects coming they’re preferring short term.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 6, 2019
New York Yankees
The Yankees are always involved with any free agent available. As we have seen with the Yankees, winning trumps all. General manager Brian Cashman looks into all players, but it appears they won’t sign Keuchel. Even with an older rotation that already has two pitchers on the injured list, it has not made the Yankees spend big on Keuchel. Gio Gonzalez was signed to a team-friendly one-year, $3 million contract. However, it will we worth monitoring the injury to ace pitcher Luis Severino. If he is going to be out longer than expected, the Yankees could make a move.
Boone said he thinks the Yankees have enough pitching to weather the Severino injury. Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga are the most likely candidates to fill in.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 5, 2019
The Field
Any team who has designs on contending this year could use Keuchel, especially if they suffer a major injury to their rotation. This does not mean Keuchel will be signed. Agent Scott Boras has not said publicly that his client will take a one-year deal. Maybe he is waiting for the right spot to open up. One thing is for sure — once a starting pitcher gets hurt, the Dallas Keuchel watch will begin.
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