MLB
Should The Mets Be In On Dallas Keuchel?
As we are now a week into the 2019 MLB season, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, Dallas Keuchel, still remains a free agent. The Mets have remained in contact with Keuchel but is it worth signing him? Of course, it’s worth it. If the Mets can add another strong lefty to their rotation, the Mets could potentially have the best rotation in all of Major League Baseball.
Benefits Of Signing Keuchel
Signing Keuchel would obviously be a great move for the Mets. In his career, Keuchel is 76-63 with a 3.66 ERA, 945 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.25 in 1,189 1/3 innings pitched. These are great career numbers considering he has spent all of his career in the AL West, where you have guys like Mike Trout, Khris Davis, Albert Pujols, and more start sluggers. Just last season Keuchel went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA. Put that into a rotation that also has Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler, and Steven Matz, the Mets have a rotation that can dominate teams every day. He would provide a great lefty option to pair with Steven Matz and Keuchel also has a great postseason record (4-2 with a 3.31 ERA). It just seems that Keuchel could be a perfect fit for the Mets.
Issues With Signing Keuchel
There are two key issues if the Mets were to sign Dallas Keuchel. The first of which is what will the Mets do with Jason Vargas? If Keuchel is signed, no question Jason Vargas is the odd-man out. Do the Mets try to trade him? Do they stick him in the bullpen as a long reliever or do they simply drop him entirely? No one really has a set idea of what would happen to Vargas should the Mets sign Keuchel.
The second, and perhaps the biggest issue, would be the cost of Keuchel. Reports have shown that Keuchel is looking for a one-year deal higher than the Astros qualifying offer of $17.9 million. With the Mets already creeping towards the top end of their budget, it could potentially be a risky investment. However, Keuchel would be a significant boost to the Mets starting rotation that they so desperately need, making the risk potentially worthwhile.
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Photo Credit to Arturo Pardavila III via Flickr
