With the Major League Baseball draft beginning today, free agents Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel can now sign without draft pick compensation. Prior to today, the Mets would have sacrificed their second highest pick, number #53 overall, and had their signing bonus pool cut by $500K, if they had signed either pitcher.
In 204.2 innings last year, Keuchel, posted a 3.74 ERA, 3.69 FIP and a 1.31 WHIP for the Astros. The free agent southpaw, now 31-years-old, won the Cy Young Award in 2015 after going 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and leading the league with a 1.01 WHIP.
Meanwhile, Kimbrel recorded 42 saves last season for Boston while posting a 2.74 ERA and 3.13 FIP. The 31-year-old closer is a seven-time All-Star and owns a career ERA of 1.91.
The market for Kimbrel and Keuchel should intensify now that draft picks aren’t attached to them. Both pitchers represent a significant upgrade for many teams, including the Mets, whose pitching staff ranks 19th in the MLB with a 4.60 ERA.
