It’s April 18 with two of the better free agent pitchers still on the market in Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported on both this morning, first noting that teams believe that Kimbrel would now take a three-year deal after asking for at least five earlier in the process.
Kimbrel, 30, had a down season in 2018 posting a 2.74 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 3.10 SO/W, and 42 saves for the champion Red Sox.
Heyman names Braves, Brewers, Nationals, and Phillies as suitors.
Keuchel is open to a one-year deal according to Heyman, in hopes of resetting in the free agent market without qualifying offer compensation attached to him. Heyman sees Brewers, Phillies, Padres, and Astros.
The veteran left-hander had a 3.74 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 2.64 SO/W, and pitched 204.2 innings in 2018 for the Astros.
In his tweets, Heyman didn’t mention the Mets for either pitcher but then mentioned on WFAN that the Mets do like Keuchel and that he may prefer a big market team.
The Mets have a National League worst 5.65 to begin the 2019 season. Jason Vargas, their fifth starter, has gone only 5.1 innings in his first two starts of the season.
