Call to the pen
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MLB Free Agency: Potential landing spots for Dallas Keuchel

By Kristen Bentley

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 29: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros makes his way in from the bull pen after warming up before pitching against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on August 29, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 29: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros makes his way in from the bull pen after warming up before pitching against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park on August 29, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Keuchel is one of the top MLB free agents on the market today. As one of a few top starting pitchers on the market, he could end up at nearly any team.

Since Dallas Keuchel has Scott Boras as his agent, it could be a while before the left-handed 30-year-old gets a contract. While he’s one of the better pitchers in the MLB free agents market, he is no longer the ace that he once was when he earned the Cy Young in 2015.

Don’t get me wrong, Keuchel will be a catch for any team. He’s a horse and the league-leading 874 batters he faced in 2018 will confirm that. But, his strikeout numbers dropped in 2018 and his hits per nine increased.

According to a post about Keuchel in MLB Trade Rumors, Boras called Keuchel the “soft-contact genius of his era.” Because of this, the team that signs him will need to have a strong infield defense to contain the nearly 27% soft-contact rate that Keuchel does so well.

In a league dominated by home runs, Keuchel has given up relatively few, especially when compared to other starting pitchers. In 2017, the year of the home run, he only gave up 15 in 145.2 innings pitched. In 2018, when he pitched 204.2 innings, he gave up 18. Compare that to 28  in 2018 given up by former teammate Justin Verlander and the 32 given up by Mike Fiers in 2017 – Keuchel’s ground-ball rate seems like a real asset.

Keuchel has another thing going for him. He can actually field his position and he has four Gold Glove Awards to prove it. All too often, pitchers struggle to field balls that come their way, often making wonky throws to first. Keuchel repeatedly has an above-average range defending the mound. His range numbers are often at least one point above league average, which at the pitching position is notable.

There are at least 10 teams that could potentially become the new home of Dallas Keuchel. Let’s take a look at how he would fit in each of them.

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