5 more free agents the Philadelphia Phillies need to target

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 12: Atlanta Braves Third Base Josh Donaldson (20) smiles after the first inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies on September 12, 2019 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 22: Atlanta Braves Starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) during the MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the NL East Division Champion Atlanta Braves on September 22, 2019 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Dallas Keuchel

The Phillies made a low-ball offer to franchise legend Cole Hamels, checking in around half of the $18 million the left-hander ultimately took from Atlanta on a one-year deal. Hamels would have made for a nice story, returning to Philadelphia to finish out his career. By offering him less than $10 million for one year, the Phillies may not have been making an offer just for appearances. Zack Wheeler was obviously their top target.

Wheeler is a great get for the Phillies, but their rotation still needs more help. They do have five starters under contract for 2020, but cannot count on Jake Arrieta or Vince Velasquez to stay healthy for an entire season, or to pitch effectively, for that matter. Simply put, if the Phillies want to contend in the division with the best rotations in baseball, they need another workhorse starter.

Philadelphia will have to be willing to spend close to $18 million per year to land a starter of any value, but they have to seriously consider the idea. For the money, left-hander Dallas Keuchel isn’t a bad pick. The 31-year-old is almost a sure bet for 30 starts and close to 200 innings with an ERA in the 3.50-to-3.75 range. Keuchel spent an abbreviated 2019 in Atlanta and was 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA, closing strong in the second half after he got on a roll.

Keuchel isn’t going to come close to matching his 2015 AL Cy Young numbers at this point of his career, but he is still solid. He has also pitched in some of the most hitter-friendly parks in his career and has always thrived at home. That’s a strong mark in his favor for the Phillies, where Citizens Bank Park is always a challenge for pitchers. Keuchel pounds the zone with strikes and induces plenty of groundballs.

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