Dallas Keuchel remains a free agent almost a month into the MLB season, and there is still a chance it could be another month or more before he finds work. However, there is one team that may have more incentive to sign him than others.
Keuchel rejected a qualifying offer from the Houston Astros prior to the start of free agency, which means the team would receive compensation in the form of a 2019 MLB Draft pick if the left-hander signs elsewhere. As Matthew Cerrone of SNYTV’s Mets Blog notes, the draft pick issue could be avoided if Keuchel re-signs with the Astros. And he may be open to doing just that.
Consensus among MLB insiders >> If Keuchel & Kimbrel don’t sign this week, they're more likely to wait until after draft. … Keuchel can avoid draft pick issue by going back to #Astros, who I still believe is his preferred landing spot @SNYTV @mlbtrmets #LGM
— Matthew Cerrone (@matthewcerrone) April 22, 2019
If Keuchel doesn’t end up back in Houston, he may find that no team is willing to sign him until after the draft, which takes place from June 3 to June 5. Although his asking price has reportedly come down significantly, he has not gotten all that close to inking a new deal.
The qualifying offer from the Astros was worth $17.9 million, so Keuchel may already regret not taking it. Houston is said to have made multiple offers to bring him back, and at least one of those may still be on the table.
