The Dallas Keuchel countdown starts soon
New York is going to need someone to eat innings as the summer arrives
Pitching was the primary focus for Brian Cashman heading into this past off-season. First on his list was keeping CC Sabathia around for his final season. Sabathia is obviously not the same pitcher he was back in the day, but his locker room presence is something the Yankees need. Even as he’s hitting the IL for his yearly knee draining, this was still the right move by Cashman.
Two weeks later, Cashman made his splash. He traded for Seattle’s James Paxton, giving up highly touted prospect Justus Sheffield. Paxton was expected to come in and be the number two guy behind Luis Severino. Having already had his fair share of injuries, Paxton has already landed on the IL this season and hopes to make his return next week.
Patrick Corbin was a target for New York for the past few years, even trying to trade for him while he was in Arizona. They made their pitch and their offer, but Corbin was blown away by the Nationals’ six year, $140 million deal. While it’s just money we’re talking about, nobody was coming close to that number. Cashman was smart to pass on that. Even if Corbin excels in Washington, that type of overpay is exactly what has hurt the Yankees in the past.
After missing on Corbin, JA Happ was the next target. Happ signed 10 days after Corbin spurned the Yankees. Happ was fantastic during his short tenure in New York after the trade from Toronto, going 7–0. This year has been the opposite, as he is sitting with a 5.16 ERA and has already given up 13 long balls.
The Yankees hoped to have a rotation of Severino, Paxton, Tanaka, Happ, and Sabathia all season. They believed it to be a strong rotation.
Sadly, it hasn’t worked out as planned.
Severino didn’t even get one start in during Spring Training and hasn’t returned yet. Happ is giving fans flashbacks of Sonny Gray, and Paxton and Sabathia are both on the IL. Somehow, despite all of that, the Yankees are in first place. They have a team ERA of 3.76, 7th best in MLB. Domingo German has been an unexpected All-Star but is already past 50 IP and likely will have a 120-inning limit this year.
This all adds up to the Yankees needing a pitcher to eat up innings during the summer. Well, would you look at that! There just so happens to be a guy with a Cy Young Award and World Series ring on his mantle, just waiting for the right offer.
Dallas Keuchel has regressed from his Cy Young form but is still a reliable lefty who likely has something to prove. After hoping for a long term deal this off-season, nothing materialized for Keuchel. He has said he will not take less than what he is worth. He turned down the Qualifying offer which was just under $18 million for one season, so that will still be the bar for whenever he signs.
The magic date is now June 3rd, the date of the MLB draft. Once the draft passes, Keuchel will no longer be attached to draft pick compensation. Rumors are that the Yankees are favorites to land him and that he may sign on June 4th.
Even though the Yankees are favorites that really means nothing anymore. For those with a short memory, they were also the favorites for Corbin, Machado and Harper. People still assume that this is the Yankees of old who will pay for anyone, but that isn’t true. They will pay for what they believe is a smart deal.
The Yankees are also one of several suitors for Keuchel. The Phillies spent their “stupid” money on Harper, but should be in on both Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel. Really, every team in the NL East race should be after Keuchel.
A big concern for the Yankees would be if the Rays or Red Sox go after the lefty. The Red Sox have bounced back after a slow start and the Rays continue to be a underrated force. After losing Tyler Glasnow to a scary forearm injury, maybe the Rays open the bank for a one year deal.
Then, there is always the Astros, Keuchel’s former team. But, seeing as they could’ve signed Keuchel already without losing a draft pick, it’s safe to say they’re likely moving on.
The Yankees have lost out on big time pitching acquisitions in-season over the past few years. They’ve missed out on Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Nathan Eovaldi, to name a few. Eovaldi, of course, went to the Red Sox and hurt the Yankees more than anyone would have thought.
This year they cannot allow it to happen again. Their rotation needs the help and ideally their everyday lineup will be getting huge reinforcements soon. They will likely be in the market during the trade deadline, but they should act sooner rather than later. Keuchel will only cost money whereas someone like Bumgarner or Stroman will cost multiple prospects that the Yankees don’t want to give up on yet.
The Yankees have seen firsthand how Keuchel can win a playoff game on his own, and despite not being a Cy Young candidate, he is still better then using Chad Green as an opener every week.
This off-season Keuchel said he is ready to get rid of this trademark beard if the right team came calling.
Cashman, on June 4th, pick up the phone and make the call.
Thoughts? Let me hear them on Twitter @AngelSteve89
