According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, sources indicate the New York Yankees are leading in the race to land free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel, with the Atlanta Braves also in the mix.
“According to a source, the Yankees and Braves are the favorites to sign [Keuchel],” Feinsand tweeted. “Both teams are believed to be in the same areas with their offers at the moment.”
Keuchel, 31, spent the first seven years of his MLB career with the Houston Astros, pitching to a 3.66 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 7.15 K/9 and 2.60 BB/9, and 17.6 wins above replacement (FanGraphs).
After winning the American League Cy Young Award in 2015 (20-8, 2.48 ERA, 5.6 fWAR), the southpaw experienced his share of ups and downs (4.55 ERA in an injury-shortened 2016 campaign; 2.90 ERA in 2017; 3.74 ERA in 2018).
Keuchel rejected Houston’s qualifying offer this winter, making him a free agent but attaching a compensatory draft pick to himself in the process, which explains why teams have been hesitant to sign the former All-Star.
Now that the 2019 MLB Draft has commenced, that compensatory pick has fallen away and the market for Keuchel, as well as free-agent reliever Craig Kimbrel, is expected to open up.
We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.
