Dallas Keuchel was not quite as effective in 2018 as he was in seasons past with the Houston Astros, but that will not prevent him from getting a massive contract when he becomes a free agent this winter. And if he wants to pitch in some of the biggest markets in sports, the price tag is sure to be a hefty one.
Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports wrote this week that some close to Keuchel believe the left-hander has interest in pitching on the “big stage,” which typically means either New York or Los Angeles. As Heyman notes, both the Yankees and Dodgers have structured their payrolls in a way that they could add a player like Keuchel before 2019.
Keuchel, 30, had a 12-11 record and a 3.74 ERA this season. He loves pitching for the Astros and could easily re-sign with them, but he’s a Scott Boras client and has his agent comparing him to Andy Pettite and Tom Glavine. Houston has shown a willingness to spend with a payroll that ranks in the top-10, but Keuchel could price his way out of town.
While Keuchel dealt with some issues he was unfamiliar with earlier this year, he has three seasons to his name with a sub-3.00 ERA and won the Cy Young Award in 2015. His talent is undeniable, so the market for his services will be robust.
