The Mariners are signing left-hander Dallas Keuchel to a minor league deal, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. The WME Baseball client will report to Triple-A Tacoma when the deal is complete.
Keuchel, 36, was once one of the best pitchers in the league, even winning the American League Cy Young in 2015. But he has been more in journeyman mode over the past three years. He made 175 starts from 2014 to 2020 with an earned run average of 3.25 over that stretch. His 19.8% strikeout rate in that time wasn’t special, but he limited walks to a 6.7% clip and got grounders on 59.6% of balls in play. That grounder rate was the highest in all of baseball, among those with at least 450 innings pitched in that time period.
His rate stats began to trend in the wrong direction in 2021, as his ERA jumped to 5.28. In 2022, things got even worse and he was released by the White Sox, later bouncing to the Diamondbacks and and Rangers for brief stints. He finished that year with a ghastly ERA of 9.20 in 60 2/3 innings. His ground ball rate fell to 50.2%, still strong but well below his previous levels. He only struck out 14.9% of batters faced and gave out walks at a 10.2% clip.
Last year, he worked out with Driveline Baseball in an attempt to regain some lost velocity and movement on his pitches, eventually landing a minor league deal with the Twins in June. He tossed 32 innings at the Triple-A level with a 1.13 ERA, 21.2% strikeout rate, 9.1% walk rate and 61.5% ground ball rate. That ERA was a mirage as he wasn’t going to maintain a 95% strand rate but his 4.17 FIP was still an improvement over the form he showed in the previous year.
The Twins added him to the big league roster at the start of August and he tossed 37 2/3 innings down the stretch in a swing role but his work wasn’t as impressive in the bigs, as he posted a 5.97 ERA in that time. His 14.5% strikeout rate, 10.5% walk rate and 52.8% ground ball rate were all fairly close to his 2022 numbers.
The Seattle rotation recently took a hit when Bryan Woo landed on the injured list due to some elbow inflammation. They still have a strong group of five guys with Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Emerson Hancock in the rotation, but Keuchel will give them some extra depth. He will presumably need a few weeks to get into game shape anyway after missing Spring Training and the rotation picture could easily change between now and then.
Tabata's Adopted Son
Why not. Good luck
frankf-2
lol because he sucks
Tabata's Adopted Son
Which is why he got a minor league deal
soggybedsheets
people i forgot that existed
Tabata's Adopted Son
Crazy fast decline. 5th in Cy Young in 2020, Gold Glover in 2021. Barely in the league by 2023.
holecamels35
When you throw less than 90, any decline can be enough to finish you off.
Dogbone
I sure hope he gets activated before they come in to Chicago to face the Cubs.
NYCityRiddler
The bus station is on line one Dallas. Exact change only please! Ahahaha!
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Oh goodness! It’s called depth at the AAA level. And who comes up if we lose another starter ?
Stevil
Jhonathan Días threw 5 innings in his first start in Tacoma and had a pretty good spring. He might be next in line, but I’m not sure if anyone is really ready to step into the rotation right now.
Keuchel will need time, but having a veteran like him mentoring the Tacoma arms and possibly being able to help in a pinch down the road absolutely has value.
No reason not to like this. It was obvious Seattle would be looking for starter depth. This shouldn’t be surprising or upsetting.
baseballteam
BP
Ham Fighter
Retire already stop it
Liberalsteve
Why should he?
frankf-2
Because he sucks.
soggybedsheets
if someone will give you money to play a sport, you play. he’s also someone that will help sell tickets in AAA, regardless of how effective he is in MLB now
cpdpoet
Agreed, I’ve often said that the Steve Carlton route would be the way I’d go if the Lord blessed my left arm w/ any type of serious MLB talent…..
RandorBierd
Nobody is buying a ticket who was previously not interested in the team solely because Keuchel is on the mound.
frankf-2
“sell tickets”
nukeg
I’m wondering if he’s just below the 10 year qualifier for the pension. His stats say 12 seasons, but some of those are lean innings. That would def be a motivating reason.
RandorBierd
Maybe there’s trouble in paradise and the alleged dream coupling has him seeking ways to get out of the house and away from his bizarre wife.
MafiaBass
BBREF says he has 10.008 service time
Liberalsteve
So, what happened to Trevor Bauer? Girls asked for rough sex and to be hit?
soggybedsheets
what does trevor bauer have to do with this article?
Liberalsteve
He wants a minor league deal
Tigers3232
Bauer has never said he wants a MiLB deal.
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39703275/trevor-bauer-pitc…
“I should have the opportunity to sign with a big league team”. He doesn’t even insinuate any desire of signing with or playing with any MiLB team.
I’m in no way taking a stance on Bauer here. But to say that he wants a MiLB deal is a complete fabrication on your part.
TigersLoveCinnamon
What’s with all you Bauer stans? He isn’t even good in an inferior league.
Deleted Userr
Yes he is smart guy. He had a 2.76 ERA and was named a NPB All Star.
Tabata's Adopted Son
Trevor Bauer is a garbage human and I don’t really feel bad for him, but he is also a good baseball player. Glad he isn’t on my favorite team, but two things can be true at once.
Deleted Userr
You can hate Trevor Bauer the person all you want. But I absolutely will not enable misinformation on this site. He can pitch.
Guard the Vogt
You know there’s a new study that says the first person to bring up Bauer in something that has nothing to do with him has an IQ lower than a pebble.
RandorBierd
His sexual preferences have caused him to be blacklisted because they are not yet socially accepted or protected. If he were doing this and was part of the protected groups he would be just fine and even celebrated.
frankf-2
You’re a loser.
Rsox
Decent depth signing
Jaa1968
That girl looked pretty happy the next morning. Give Bauer a rest
Liberalsteve
If it was just her, he would be signed. There are others.
Deleted Userr
Cool man. How many of them credible?
TigersLoveCinnamon
Just stop
Logistics Guy
I wonder If this move would be class as a dumpster dive. Just asking
muskie73
Dallas Keuchel could be this year’s Tommy Milone: a veteran 36-year-old lefthander who provides Seattle depth down at Triple A Tacoma. Over the past two seasons Milone made nine appearances with the Mariners, including a decent start this poster witnessed in San Francisco.
TigersLoveCinnamon
The giants have been awful against random/rookie starters for years though
Monkey’s Uncle
“Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time.”
ATastefulPaintingofTwoDogsDoingIt
He really wants to reach that 10 year service time mark. Unfortunately, he flings turds
TigersLoveCinnamon
Unfortunately he has 12 years, so you’re the turd
cpdpoet
Well according to Bball-ref he’s got his 10+ service time, so I’d keep on trying til I ran out of countries to throw in…
Doesn’t look like he has any reachable milestones left, so (and here we go) For Love of the Game time….
SupremeZeus
A real vote of confidence for those upper level Mariner SP prospects hoping to get their shot in the MLB this season.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Uhhh there aren’t anymore upper level prospects, that’s why they signed him. All our upper guys have been upped.
CravenMoorehead
He’s made over $100 million, was an All-Star, won a CY Young Award, has numerous Gold Gloves and a World Series Ring*
He obviously still loves the game to be pitching at this point after recent struggles so good for him
King123
Has functioning, attached arm, will travel
Kassiedog
A much cheaper Marco Gonzales.
rememberthecoop
Oh boy.
Hyatt Visa
Birds and bees both nest in his beard, yet his wife is ridiculously hot
RandorBierd
His wife used to be hot until she both stopped eating and got really into plastic surgery. Now she looks increasingly more unusual and frail.
Yankeesforever
every photo of the two he has his hand on her rear end.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Good luck with that. How do the M’s fans feel about this? I’ve been constantly told “they don’t need old pitchers, they have the best rotation.”
Hawktattoo
Every team needs depth. Can’t hurt to see whats left in the tank.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Bad pitcher, worse person
Niekro floater
Kuechal is monster frm ol horror movie that won’t die. Where’s his fastball sit now … 82-83mph ? Gonna look like beach ball coming up there. Change speeds, work the corners, n good luck.
GO1962
I admire Keuchel because even though he has already made enough money to retire and live a life of comfort, he continues to try to play. He must really have a strong love of the game.
Ghost Pepper
You must be a relative.
User 2161944466
Rich people get bored easily.
nyy17 2
If he spent as much time on his mechanics as he does manicuring his beard, he’d be a hall of famer.
RandorBierd
There’s no way that anything he has to offer is better than what is already at AAA or AA. If he gets called up, the results will be no different than the past two years. Couple that with how his wife needs to eat more food and the whole thing is bizarre.
Appalachian_Outlaw
I don’t know what the Mariners AAA rotation looks like off the top of my head, but you’re still wrong just based off of the fact that Keuchel can offer valuable experience. Even if they bring him up and he makes a few bad spot starts, it’s very possible it’s helping them to avoid rushing a prospect too.
Also, what does your personal opinion of his wife have anything to do with baseball? It doesn’t. Let her live her life the way she wants.
RandorBierd
What valuable experience is he offering by performing terribly? Furthermore, not everyone in the minors is a prospect. Bring someone up who has been waiting around for a shot and see what happens. We already know what will happen when this washed up old man gets the call.
Appalachian_Outlaw
He’s pitched in big games in the postseason and been part of World Series winning teams, and he can say to guys: “This is what it’s like, this is what you need to do, etc…”
He hasn’t had success recently, but he has had success in his career. That knowledge is something guys can draw from because this guy did it without the big fastball, even just down in AAA.
Plus, it’s a minor league signing, so why stress it? Teams make inconsequential minor league moves every day. If Keuchel wasn’t a known name, no one would say anything. But because some people know the name, some are just quick to say he’s washed.
Dumpster Divin Theo
The kind of teammate who loves hearing himself talk and throwing teammates under the bus with his public demonstrations on the mound when his weak stuff gets tagged and falls in. Fun at parties.
Seager Slams
I would say Levi Stoudt is next in line, since he’s already on the 40 man.
lee cousins
Given the sheer volume of pitchers Dipoto is accumulating volume has it’s own quality. No concerns
lee cousins
A little off topic, watching those Mariners play they aren’t playing like a well oiled machine. Julio has made two errors one with the glove the other running the bases. He’s still green around the edges. I’m not sure what to make of Raly, and Urias I guess more time will tell. Canzone is a mixture of inconsistencies but shows some promise. These new pieces will need to be assimilated before we know more about them. If they can play 500 ball ⚽ till then all the better.
yeasties
Maybe what you are seeing now are the true Mariners. Outside of a few hot streaks [which I argue is a likely mirage], the team has been a mediocre club for the past couple of years, and despite the frantic activity of the front office this offseason, I would argue they’re not any better. They traded organizational depth to get a little better at the major league level, but that thin depth is already exposed.