4:59pm: The Astros have made multiple offers to Keuchel, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter), including both one and two-year scenarios.
10:26am: The Astros are still in touch with free-agent lefty Dallas Keuchel about a potential return to Houston, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). ESPN’s Buster Olney hears similarly, tweeting this morning that the two sides have talked recently but, as of last night, were not close to agreeing to a deal. Heyman notes that the Phillies remain interested on a short-term pact, while MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote Tuesday that Keuchel is still seeking a multi-year pact.
Houston currently has Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Collin McHugh and Wade Miley penciled into the top four spots in the rotation, with Brad Peacock and Framber Valdez vying for the fifth spot in camp (a rotation battle recently explored by The Athletic’s Jake Kaplan). Re-signing Keuchel would push Peacock back into the multi-inning relief role in which he excelled last season. Beyond that, though, bringing Keuchel back into the mix would address the looming rotation void facing the Astros beyond the current season. Each of Verlander, Cole, McHugh and Miley will be a free agent following the 2019 season. Houston has top prospect Forrest Whitley looming in Triple-A and will ideally get Lance McCullers Jr. back from Tommy John surgery in 2020, but the absence of even a single current member of the rotation on the books in 2020 does lead to some longer-term uncertainty.
Keuchel, 31, may not be the ace-caliber arm that he was when he took home the American League Cy Young Award in 2015, but he’s still very clearly a solid starter who’d improve just about any rotation in the Majors. Slowed a bit by neck and back injuries in 2016-17 — he still made 49 starts over those two seasons — Keuchel once again crossed the 200-inning threshold in 2018. Last season, he tossed 204 2/3 frames of 3.74 ERA ball with 6.7 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 0.79 HR/9 and a 53.7 percent ground-ball rate. Even excluding his pair of sub-3.00 ERA campaigns in 2014-15 (and that 2015 Cy Young nod), Keuchel has worked to a 3.77 ERA in 518 2/3 innings over the past three years.
Whether his lofty asking price has dropped to the point where the Astros would consider re-signing their homegrown lefty still isn’t clear, though recent talks between the two sides suggest that Houston is hardly closed off to the general concept. Re-signing Keuchel wouldn’t cost the Astros a current draft pick, but it’d prevent them from receiving the compensatory draft selection they’d receive if they allowed him to sign with another club.
Brewers should get him
Good idea.
I agree. would slot in at the top well
If he’s the top of your rotation guy, you had issues. Good luck with that
3 years $45 million with a team option at another $15 million. Make it happen!
I like your thinking but I’d change that to 2-yr 36mill w 3rd year option @ 20mill (and load entire deal w incentives – 1mill for Cy Young, 1 mill 200 innings, 1 mill for 30 starts, 1 mill for finishing top-5 in wins, 1 mill for All-Star selection, 1 mill for gold glove, 1 mill for finishing top-5 in ERA & etc) since DK originally turned QO of 17.9.
Or something comparable..
Many of your proposed incentives are illegal.
Yep, can’t award incentives based on statistical achievement.
You can’t? Legit Q?
Didn’t Sabbathia get 500k bonus for reaching 155 innings last year?
Innings pitched, starts, relief appearances, games, and plate appearances are allowed because they are not technically performance based and awards bonuses such as GG & Cy are also allowed. But ERA, Avg., wins, slugging%, HR, etc. are not
No. Not allowed as part of the CBA
So a whole bunch of “incentives” that are nearly impossible to hit?
3/45 is what I said he’d get in Atlanta, but if they won’t do it then Luhnow should. It’s expensive, but sometimes it’s better to go with the guy you trust over the unknown (other potential SPs).
How is 3/45 for Keuchel “expensive”? He should be where Arrieta was on a three year.
Because he is a ground ball pitcher who looks to be in decline and already has one of the slowest average fastballs in the league. Clearly there isn’t demand for that. He should accept 2 for 30 with a team option for a 3rd year at 10.
His average fastball was around 89mph when he won the cy young. He depends on movement Morris than velo.
What does being a lower speed GB pitcher have to do with his ability to get outs with his tools? He’s either a good pitcher or not. He either eats innings or he doesn’t. It’s safe to say he’s a very effective pitcher that should safely project to provide 500-600 innings over the course of a three year deal.
He’s not as good as arrieta. His career has been steadier, but Arrieta’s peak was better and he was better year.
They has similar peripheral numbers in the three years leading up to FA. Arrieta striking out more while finishing with a full run lower on his ERA. Keuchel’s platform year was markedly better than Arrieta’s. There’s no way Arrieta deserves almost double on a three year deal. It’s laughable.
Yes and Philly have an over pay for Arrietta. Keuchel was worth more early in market. We’re sure Nationals would rather have Keuchel at 4/70 than Corbin at 6/140. Agent and player need for identify spenders, market appropriately, and sign early to highest bidder.
I wouldn’t consider 3/45 expensive at all for a pitcher of Keuchel’s caliber — even with the market changing. Most projection systems still have Keuchel as a 3-win player next year, and even a rudimentary regression of a half-win per season from that point forth would mean he’s giving a team 7.5 wins over that three-year term. Paying $6MM per win in free agency is a bargain, and the three-year term of that contract minimizes any real long-term ramifications.
I find it hard to fathom that multiple teams wouldn’t be in at that level.
I think it’s more than teams are wanting to pay for his future ability. I think he needs to work on a $10m contract, 2-3 years, or maybe 4 if a team will bite.
He seems to have overplayed his value (as so many do) in 2019.
Ten million per season?? That’s ludicrous.
Is it though? One would think the demands he’s holding out for our ludicrous. You don’t pay for what he did, you pay for what he’ll do. $10m seems fair.
$10MM a year for a 2.5-3.5 WAR pitcher (one with plenty of bona fides) is absurd.
Well, clearly he’s asking to much. Those are facts.
That’s what people said about Bryce and he ended up with $330 million
Only on a 13 year deal. AAV tells a different story, and, it was from a team that (to an extent) bid against itself to overcome what looked like a huge preference for the other coast (whether an act or not.)
For a guy who wanted 33-40aav people said was insane to settle for around 25.2, I’d say the complainers got it about right
He’s asking for too much on a five to six year deal. You can’t just reduce that down to an AAV of $10MM. Ten million is horrible. It’s horrendous for Dallas Keuchel.
I think that’s about where teams are in. Keuchel isn’t getting the value that guys like Porcello got in extensions in free agency and he’s rightfully upset. However due to the many reasons listed in this thread, he’s a bigger risk then he wants to realize. There’s a reason Eovaldi got a quick solid value deal. His upside is still much higher giving teams a chance to get value out of the deal. If they pay $15-20 mil a season for Keuchel there’s no possible added value there. They hope to break even. Teams only make those deals out of desperation. Not many teams are desperate given the current league layout. Though I’d argue some should be.
The Astros for one I think are significantly better with Keuchel which I can’t say for many other competitive teams that would slot him into the rotation every 5th day. Unfortunately for this reason Keuchel has no leverage and just has to accept the best offer on the table or hope a Spring injury pops up. Bet you he smirked a little when Severino went down hoping the Yanks would jump in but all indications are that they are not interested. Severino and Sabathia coming back too soon.
Also, I doubt porcello pulls down 21 mil this time around.
At the time everyone I knew lambasted “sharington” for giving up way too much just to get the deal signed.
Also, Porcello was just 26 years old when he inked that deal. Big BIG difference in what you pay for those years than what you pay and aging already 31 Keuchel.
I’d say don’t use porcello as a comp for keuchel to get upset over, aside from each having a Cy young year it isn’t a good one.
@Steve Adams – For what he has been, it’s a bargain. However this contract will pay for what he is going to do in the future. If you watched the Astros in 2018 you saw a clearly different Keuchel from his Cy Young/All-star caliber years. He relies heavily on finesse and location, and when he struggles with location he gets rocked. Last year he had 3 or 4 games where he gave up 7+ER, one game he gave up 9! When he’s on, he’s great. When he’s not, it’s a bloodbath more often than not.
Another point that no one is making is in regards to whom will be catching him on a current Astros team. The Astros catching tandem as it sits now are not upper echelon pitch framers or signal callers. This matters far more than people realize when you have a soft throwing control pitcher on the mound. Keuchel pitched MUCH better when McCann caught him over the last 2 years versus when it was someone else.
Maybe that was the pitch calling, and not the framing.
It’s the combination of the two mixed with an experienced, top notch catcher. It WILL make a difference for pitchers, especially ones incapable of blowing hitters away.
Doesn’t Stassi rate as one of the top pitch framers in the game?
At that price the Angels need to sign him.
1 year deal and he becomes a unrestricted free agent with no draft pick attached. that is what he should do. He is not that sought after with a draft pick attached to him.
Many have to told me I’m crazy, but that QO draft pick, when added to his asking price, is keeping more teams away.
Considering you actually need like 10 sp to get through the season, I’d take Keuchel over our tenth best option (Brady Rodgers maybe?). It’s an oversimplification, but this is about much more than a 5th starter spot.
Plus as a bonus, he owns the Yankees.
Owns the Yankees? You’re about two seasons too late on that one, buddy.
2018: 0-2, 5.25 ERA in 12 innings.
Mind-blowing numbers. Massive ownage. Haha
I’d hope whatever contracts are eventually accepted by the likes of Keuchel, Gonzalez, etc are prorated to when they can actually help the major league club. Absolutely zero percent chance any of these guys are ready by the beginning of the year. If they don’t get in soon, it’s likely they miss the first month. “Throwing on your own” is not acceptable to major league teams investing that money in you…. once you sign, you need to go through their program that they deem will have you prepared for the season. Hopefully these guys sign soon
That’s ridiculous.
^ that’s insightful
I just find it dumb.
The team wants to get the best deal. The player wants to get the most money. Why on earth would a player risk injury for a contract like that? Throwing on your own is perfectly acceptable. If the perspective team doesnt like it they can pass.
No. Throwing on your own is not acceptable, as the team has no way to monitor your program. Which is why any of these pitchers signed this late will likely miss at least their first round through the rotation. It’s actually pretty simple…… they are behind schedule.
No player should or would take that deal. That’s not how the world works. Business is business. These teams know what they are getting when they sign a guy. Also throwing on your own is pretty much fine.
These guys haven’t signed because they are holding out for deals that they aren’t going to get. They overvalued themselves and got burned. Just the same I hope they get as much as they can. Any MLB team claiming poverty is one that is lying to you.
They shouldn’t be given the choice. If they choose not to sign a contract in a reasonable amount of time to allow them to be pprepared for what they are contracted to do then it should automatically be prorated or discounted. It would be in any other industry
Really? I sure as heck get paid as soon as I start work at any new job. My salary has never been prorated. Crazy talk. I guess it’s all dependent on whatever their agent works out. Pretty sure I’ve never heard of a contract like that in the game. It sounds like you fellas are just hating on some guys who were holding out hoping to get paid.
On the one hand, pitchers don’t have as much team-specific knowledge to learn as other sports – nfl, nhl, nba where plays are scripted and you learn the book.
But it does take time to build a rapport with your catcher and learn to trust… also for the catcher to really learn the pitcher. And that is important.
If you don’t think team-instructed workouts and throwing programs are important, check in with Tyler thornburg who followed his own program and didn’t follow the red sox designed one – and admitted he wasn’t ready when reporting in 2017.
Prorated contracts have been a thing “of sorts” on one year deals – I think it was Stephen drew that comes to mind who agreed to a prorated balance of what he would’ve earned had he taken the QO on a 1 year deal, and I think another I can’t recall did it too. The contract itself wasn’t worded as prorated, but the basis for it was.
I’d expect any team signing the late hold outs just builds it into their offer, it’s easier that way. On a multi year pact, just lower the 1st year salary.
Dumbest thing I’ve ever read.
I’d hate to see him go to the Yankees only because it’d be a shame if humanity lost that beard.
So go Astros I suppose.
You can’t be serious
Oh, but I am!
I hope he goes to the Yankees just to see him lose the beard
I hope he goes to the yankees just to increase their competitive balace tax and penalties 😉
Blasphemy!
i think the Stros would do well to get Dallas and keep Frambler in the 5th spot. McHugh was so dominant in the pen last year, id have to imagine they’d consider him as a pretty good set-up man.
I don’t understand the last sentence of this article: “Re-signing Keuchel wouldn’t cost the Astros a current draft pick, but it’d prevent them from receiving a compensatory draft selection in the event that Keuchel, who rejected a qualifying offer back in November, signed elsewhere.”
If he re-signed with the Astros, how would he sign elsewhere?
if someone else signed him, they’d recieve an extra pick, but if they signed another QO player instead, they’d lose a pick.
Probably not ideal wording on my part. They wouldn’t lose a pick from their current draft, but they’d lose the theoretical pick they’re currently slated to receive if they allow him to sign elsewhere. I’ve amended the wording a bit.
Thanks, that makes sense now!
A harbinger of spring, like croaking turtles……overreaching Boras clients desperately seeking employment. I just hope he doesn’t hurt his arm rushing to get ready for his May season debut.
Shields and Keuchel pitched virtually the same amount of innings, allowed the same amount of hits and struck out the same number of batters.
Keuchel is a risky pitcher, and if they change the shift rules, he may not be worth a rotation spot.
Holy goalposts
Sure if we completely ignore FIP, xFIP, SIERRA WAR and every other advanced metric they are basically the same guy…
xFip is limited. Normalizing FB to HR is nuts. Some people keep the ball in the park, some don’t. I never liked that stat. There are so many better available stats.
I’m not ignoring Ground Ball rate, that’s why I mentioned the shift.
The differnce between the two is the GB rate. Keuchel’s is elite. Ban the shift, and lose anything and things change very quickly.
If he wasn’t risky, he’d have been signed by now.
@macstruts What stats are better? Why are they better? Why would banning the shift change his ground ball rate? How many balls were hit into the shift with Kuechel pitching? Why would MLB ban the shift? Teams love it. A few LH hitters hate it. Learn to hit the other way. Why do you think he is risky? If you say because of his GB rate you have not learned much about the game. GB pitchers are the most consistent in the league. So instead of pontificating, explain your erroneous opinions.
Can’t speak for the OP, but, one problem with a GB pitcher is he is, to some extent, only as good as the IF defense behind him. You can’t say he didn’t benefit from that young excelling Houston infield.
You take a less seller infield and there’d be more hits, more runs.
As far as the shift goes, there has been abundant chatter about doing just that as a “pace of play” initiative, one that isn’t exactly without support either.
Pitchers HATE the clock, which looks more and more like its coming… but I don’t think players are nearly so unified to defend the shift. I’d expect mlbpa to roll over easier on that if it got a concession elsewhere.
I too think he’s risky, but I’d cite different reasons already discussed by others in the thread – aging control dependant pitcher, who has increasing bouts of lost control and getting shelled, so on so forth
That is a ridiculous statement
Are you talking to me? If it’s so ridiculous, why isn’t he signed?
They are paying him based on his GB rate. And they will do something about the shift sooner than later.
Why isn’t Kimbrel signed? Why isn’t Martin Maldonado signed? Every contract is risky.
The answer to your question lies within who their agent is.
What are you talking about? Pitchers are not paid on GB rates. They are paid on their overall performance and Kuechel has consistently been one of the best in the league.
Hitters will have to adjust to the shift. The league is not going to ban it or change the rules on it.
Quite the ludicrous comparison. The fact that 31-year old Dallas Keuchel is 6 years younger than James Shields alone might be enough of an argument. Shields surpassing the 200 inning mark in 2018 for the 10th time in his 13 year MLB career would be another when considering the toll on his arm compared to Keuchel’s.
The hits and strike out numbers are also a silly comp considering the difference in their respective ERA’s. Keuchel is a ground ball pitcher who excels in soft contact while Shields has been more of a strike out/fly ball pitcher in his fine career. Both pitched in hitter/HR friendly home ball parks and the difference in their respective ERA’s would point to their contrasting pitching styles. Keuchel also has 3 Gold Glove awards on his resume to zero for Shields. He has also won a Cy Young Award which has alluded Shields.
A better comparison to Keuchel would be southpaw Mark Buehrle who was quite effective and remarkably consistent in his 16 year career right up until his retirement at age 36.
Except for your opening line, I appreciate the rational dialog. I know he’s a ground ball pitch to contact pitcher, why do you think I mentioned the shift?
Buehrle is a good comp. And if he pitches as well as Buehrle from age 31 to 34 (ERA + 107). Then he’ll be a solid middle of the rotation starter.
But that’s a rather large if. Keuchel scares me to death. And I imagine a lot of teams feel the same way. He’s not a pitcher I’d look to invest in.
One year, fine, but I think he’s a riskier pick than most pitchers.
Solid middle of the rotation starters in free agency that put up 2.6 WAR or higher are worth about $20 million AAV.
C’mon Phillies give him a 3yr deal and let’s go!
I like the Phillies as a fit. Push someone else back and give yourself some extra depth. Given his market, I’d be shocked if they aren’t privately asking questions.
I don’t know. I love Keuchel, but 3 years….the Phillies already did that with Arrieta and that 3rd year doesn’t look so promising. I think the Phillies are gambling that one of their young core turns into a solid #2 starter.
How much better is Keuchel than Pivetta/Velazquez? That’s the question here.
Keuchel should demand $1/lb to have his beard removed per team policy. That would cost NYY for example, an additional $3MM to sign him.
What was the qualifying offer he turned down?
I believe it was around 15.7 this year but it could be just 15. Either way, he will be lucky to get 11-12 annual for 3 years. But that still beats the qualifying offer and no security. I don’t expect his market will be bigger next year.
$17.9 million
I’ve been wondering at what number the Stros jump back in… It seems like a good fit to round out the rotation for the next few years if he’s gotten over his Cy Young award long enough to see he’s not that guy… Porcello is going to get the same silent treatment next year if he tries to ask top dollar.
Same. His original ask was all but comical. Really a bad decision on both his and Boras’s part. But there has to be a point at where a small bidding war breaks out.
I’m joking when I say this, but an eBay style auction would actually be pretty cool to watch. Start the bidding off at 99 cents for 3 years. Make it public for all teams and where fans can watch the bids. Would be a blast to watch. Bet it would result in a pretty decent contract.
Nah, it’s be mostly not activity, with a flurry of last minute snipe bids at the end
I hope the Astros make a deal. He helps the rotation. If JV or Cole goes down, the team is in trouble. DK only costs money, saves prospects, and creates quality depth.
Since the Cubs won’t be in on K, I think a 3/55 plus incentives next offseason for Verlander would be brilliant for the club. Lester, Verlander, Yu, Hendricks and Q would be a stellar rotation.
I don’t see him going to the NL. If he doesn’t stay in Houston, I’d expect to see him in pinstripes or bean town.
Respectfully, I disagree. I don’t think V is all for the over hype of the Bronx or Boston. I think he’d like to again be a part of history.
I think he’s definitely a Manhattan kind of guy (along with his wife), but that’s not why I suggested it. It’s because those teams are primed to win for several years, much like his current team. The guy wants to win.
I dont think he will go to the Yankees, he owns them. I am thinking 4/60 with Houston. Then Houston resigns Verlander for 3/75 and they let Cole walk. Next season they could have Verlander, Keuchel, McCullers, Whitley as the top 4.
Unfortunately Cole will get hugely paid somewhere else if he has another season like last year. He will be priced out of Houston’s comfort zone.
Why’s that? they haven’t given any inclination that they will be cheap with core players.
Hope the San Diego Padres get this Guy or Gro Gonzalez the team needs a veteran or Ace type pitcher to boost the Pitching Youth movement now that we have a good line up and good young pitching to come up… AJ Preller you need to get this guy or Gio Before the Start of 2019 MLB Season.. Lets Go Rock Star AJ Preller.. : )
Keuchel might be a good pickup but not Gio. I looked at the Padres possible rotation options and almost everyone is left handed too. Lucchessi, Lauer, Erlin, Strahm, Logan Allen, Not all will make the starting rotation but not much balance.
This guy is clueless. He should have sought out a 1-2 year deal with a high annual value. He’s going to miss out on a lot of money by insisting on a long pact.
Boras has been giving out bad advice like crazy to the players he represents.
You are clueless. A former Cy Young winner and top 30 starter in baseball that is only 31 should seek out short term deals? That is the most moronic comment I have seen on this thread and there are a lot of those.
Top 30 based on what data? His 2018 season wasn’t top 30 and what you’ve done lately is all that matters to the owners anymore obviously. He was absolutely tops in baseball last year…at hits allowed.
He’s a solid 3/4th starter at best. Led the league in hits, but also in starts (not innings). Did put up the lowest whip for the league doing it. Having said that, he’s a bit of a one trick pony and he’s 31.
Other guys, they rely on multiple facets of their game to get their results. He has only one – a soft throwing GB finesse pitcher.
You need a plus catcher (calling/framing) and a plus infield defense for that guy to produce well for your club. If you have that, you decide whether to roll the dice that his command stays impeccable.
That limits the range of teams looking to take a shot. The QO and forfeiture requirements don’t help.
sad how him and kimbrel, the games 2 best pitchers cant get a job. players just need to strike already. these players need to hold out…..owners only want to pay a pitcher minimum wage regardless of how good they are. 2 of the games best and can’t get compensated accordingly. SAD
Terrible argument based on zero fact. Keuchel was average last year, and hurt the year before. Kimbrel was still good last year, but definitely not even a top 15 reliever. During their best respective seasons they weren’t even the best then.
huh? Kimbrel is the best closer in the game. is a 7x all star out of 8 years of service time. he has had a much better career than aroldis chapman who just signed for 5yr/86$MM. Kimbrel is 1 year younger than chapman, both have been in bigs same amount of time and Kimbrel is way better. Kimbrel is getting colluded against and screwed.
Keuchel is a cy young award winner. You are in over your head if you want to start arguing with me on this. The owners are colluding against these guys, SAD.
@astrosfan4life You are absolutely right. Kuechel was MLB average last season. 2.6 WAR. That is worth more than $20 million per year in free agency. #3 starters are very valuable and very well paid. Facts hurt your argument.
Kimbrel is the best reliever of all time. Not even Mo had better stats through 9 seasons of his career or at the end. ERA, FIP, xFIP, K per 9, average WAR. Kimbrel is better in all of them. Kimbrel is without question or argument the best reliever in baseball through 9 seasons. He had a down year and was still top 20. His 2.3 WAR in 2018 is still elite for a reliever. It’s still worth $20 million per year in free agency. Again, facts hurt your argument.
The metrics don’t add up, they favor the owners, the top players should get 40 to 80 million according to WAR, but they don’t get that amount of money. The owners only use WAR when it is to their advantage.
I hate these war valuations. VETERAN replacement level players seldom sign at league minimum.
25 guys on even a 3mil avg contract (and seriously, try to find a 150 replacement level veteran SP for all teams at 3mil)
So just assume that 48 wins cost you 75 mil in payroll. Let’s also just assume that 95 wins should be the standard for a good team filled with a number of war players.
Under the cbt, 206m is this year’s limit (and many teams can’t afford THAT)… in that inflated scenario you should be able to buy 47 wins for 131m. News flash, that’s less than 3mil per war, not 8mil.
Even at mlb minimum assuming you used a team of all rookies, who wouldnt be replacement level to begin with, you’ve got 14m in salary at 555k each. Congrats, now you’ve got 192m to get 47 wins. Even now, you’re hovering just over 4mil per war.
The 8m/war figure is as asinine as it is unrealistic
BTW, in 2017 Kuechel put up a 3.9 WAR.
Fangraphs had him at 3,6 WAR last year, that’s 25 to 30 million in worth. He’ll be lucky to get 17 million.
False.
If you listen to the union player reps, the players are on the verge of striking now.
I hope they do. Fans will abandon them, revenues will plummet, remaining new tv deals will crater, and they can earn half what they do now
they should be. honestly they shouldve already done it.
Astros have to give him more than the $17.9 mil he turned down.
2 years-$36 mil with a third year option for another $18 mil.
He saves face by getting more per year than he declined and Astros get even better. Win win
No they don’t. The Astros didn’t force him to decline the QO. That’s solely on Kuechel. He’ll get 1/$15mm or 2/$30mm max.
For him to save face they do in my opinion. Also would be a good move for all he has done for the team over the years.
I guess we shall see
If he sits out, does he save face?
He won’t sit out….0% Chance
My point is maybe he has to settle for less elsewhere but if he signs with Astros, I can’t see it for being less than the 17.9 mill he turned down
So when he signs for 2/$40 what will you say then? He will get what the market will bear and right now that market is broken. What he is worth is far north of your estimates. Even based on last seasons production he is worth far more than $15 million AAV.
I’d be fine if the Astros gave him two years and 40 mil, but I doubt they would go they high and doesn’t look like anyone else will either or he’d already have signed.
I wonder if Keuchel strokes his beard when he’s deep in thought?
Keuchel to Oakland 3 yrs/ 55mil with fourth year $20 mil team option.
Oakland absolutely should throw a 3/60 or 4/75 on the table – Keuchel is the solid regular SP they need, and isn’t injury prone like 100% of their prospects have been. They have help coming but his veteran presence would be perfect.
Luzardo-Puk-Keuchel-Manaea-Fiers is a dominant 2020 rotation.
No! I won’t allow him in the AL West for another team. He’d almost assuredly return to his Cy Young days and haunt the Astros haha.
Dude, get over yourself. Ur over 30, u have injury issues, ur past ur prime and ur no longer a top of the rotation ace, #3 at best. If someone offers u 3 yrs, take it, or hang it up, ur not worth any longer commitment than that.
I’d think a lot of teams would be in on Keuchel at 2 years.
Another sign that free agency is broken. Kuechel is a guy that consistently puts up 3+ WAR. $8 million per WAR is a bargain in free agency and people on here are talking about him only getting $10 million per year as fair? What a crock. Even at the typical 0.5 WAR per season regression at his age he is worth at least 3/$54-60. This is the kind of thing that will drive the players to strike. And before some lawyer wannabe says that they can’t, here is some reality for you, they can and they have in the past. Owners need to get their act together and realize that without these 1000 or so men, there is no game. At least none that people will spend $200 to take their family to the ballpark for.
It’s still unfathomable that all of MLB knows good bullpens win titles in the postseason, and there’s a HOFer in the prime of his career out there, and no one wants to give him 5/90? WTF
Any contender who gets Kimbrel should be the unanimous WS fave, and that’s a fact.
Yes, but Boras started out by asking for 6-7 years at $25-$30M annually. Then a number of teams went out and signed other players and used the majority of their budget. Due to that ludicrous initial ask, he is getting bottom of the barrel offers. Total misread by Boras, which seems to be his new standard mode of operation.
Agreed, he’s worth 25 to 30 million and Trout , Betts and Judge are worth 60 tio 80 million, but they won’t get that either.
What did they discuss?
Someone better offer this man a 3 yr deal.
Seriously if the Angels cant offer him a 3 year deal just trade Trout now. Slots right in as the #1, keeps him out of Houston, and gives them a fighting shot at the division.
He needs to start thinking about taking these short term offers. Have a date in mind and the best offer by then is it, take it. He’s not exactly at a stage in his career to be incredibly picky and he’s projected as a #3 for most rotations. Think my braves could use him more than other teams, but I know we will never match his demands and our bullpen is much worse that our SP
I take it you really don’t study the stats at all. Starting pitchers start to decline in their age 33 season. He is going into his age 31 season.
Thats an on average usual scenario. But hes already in decline, look at his stats. For last 3 yrs and his injury history. Injuries tend to make that decline more rapid. Ie clayton kershaw and hes not kershaw.
Maybe Boras is trying to interest someone in an Arietta-like deal structure.
Mhmm if it’s a short term deal… you’d have to think the Angels and Padres are right there.
This is turning out to be quite interesting. He was clearly the best pitcher on the market (besides Kimbrel) and he still doesn’t have a home.