Yankees Rumors: Should they pursue free agent Dallas Keuchel?

The Yankees top priority this offseason is to improve their starting rotation and GM Brian Cashman is still going to try to add another elite level starter even after the acquired LHP James Paxton on Monday. Could familiar foe and former Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel be a fit?

Over the past five seasons, Keuchel has been one of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball. During that span, he’s also been a thorn in the Yankees side. Not many pitchers have dominated the Yankees in recent years as much as Keuchel did during his tenure with the Astros but this offseason it’s likely that he’ll leave Houston to sign with another team. Could that team be the Yankees?

Whether it’s via trade or free agency the Yankees are going to do everything they can this winter to make sure their starting rotation is a strength in 2019. Trading for Paxton on Monday was a great start.

Every possibility will be considered so even though bringing back J.A. Happ or signing Patrick Corbin may be higher on the team’s wish list Keuchel could still be in play as a potential free agent target.

Keuchel is a rare breed in today’s era of baseball being someone who relies on late movement and location instead of high velocity in order to be effective. Despite his lack of velo, there’s definitely still a place in the game for pitchers like Keuchel and because of that, you can bet he’ll be paid handsomely by someone in the coming weeks.

Since Keuchel isn’t a hard thrower/max effort guy many believe that he should be able to stay healthy over the course of his next contract and be well worth the investment. That may be true, but what’s also true is that Keuchel is no longer a pitcher that should be considered elite. He’s still very solid but he’s not an ace anymore. As we saw last season in Houston he’s more of quality second or third starter in a rotation at this point in his career.

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In 2018, the 30-year-old southpaw went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 34 starts. He did pitch 204.2 IP but he allowed a career-high 211 hits and 18 HR, the second most he’s allowed in his career. Keuchel’s not a high strikeout guy either, only posting a 6.7 K per 9 rate in 2018.

The thing he’s best at is inducing soft contact and getting batters to hit the ball on the ground. His 54.2 GB % in 2018 was well above league average and a season ago he led baseball with a 67 GB%.

Keuchel’s also a postseason veteran who has had a lot of success pitching in October. In 10 playoff appearances, he’s 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 51.2 IP. That means a lot to teams looking to boost their starting staffs and it also shows that he isn’t overwhelmed by the big moment.

The Verdict

As good as Keuchel has been and likely will continue to be in the coming years I just don’t see him being a fit for the Yankees. The Yankees aren’t going to be afraid to spend big on a starter in free agency, but I don’t see them committing big-time money to a pitcher like Keuchel. As we saw with Paxton move Monday the Yanks are attracted to high-velocity guys who pitch up in the zone and strike a lot of guys out. Keuchel is not that while Corbin and Happ are.

I know Keuchel recently said he’d be open to signing with New York and shaving that famous beard of his, but unless the Yanks first miss out on Corbin or Happ he won’t be wearing pinstripes in 2019.