Fansided

Top 25 MLB free agents for 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 03: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves is taken out of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 03: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves is taken out of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

20. Dallas Keuchel

Dallas Keuchel, along with Craig Kimbrel, was one of two pitchers forced to wait out the qualifying offer until after the conclusion of the MLB Draft. While Kimbrel was able to nail down a multi-year deal with the Chicago Cubs, Keuchel elected for a one-year deal for $13 million with the Atlanta Braves. He is back on the market this year and will not have to deal with the penalty that comes with the qualifying offer.

The 2019 season was a mixed bag for the 2015 American League Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star. Keuchel looked rough in his first few outings, but he was effectively working without the benefit of an extended ramp-up period in Spring Training. He would pull it together and finished the year 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 starts and 112.2 innings. Keuchel dialed up a stretch from the middle of August to the end of September where he pitched to a 5-2 record and 2.06 ERA spanning eight starts and 48 innings.

Keuchel is entering his age-32 season and is a difficult free agent to pin down. Anything more than a three-year deal is likely out of the question. He also had problems with his shoulder in 2016 and 2017. Keuchel’s ability to induce weak contact is what allows him to get by with less-than-overwhelming velocity and no real strikeout pitch. How well that ability carries into his mid-30s is anyone’s best guess.

Atlanta would stand to benefit by pursuing a longer deal with Keuchel. He has shown an ability to eat up innings, which is important to a team with a young pitching staff like the Braves. Keuchel may never contend for another Cy Young, but he is a valuable piece for a contender who needs a sure bet in its number-three slot.

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