San Diego Padres: Signing Dallas Keuchel the next logical move
By David Hill
The San Diego Padres have already made one splash in free agency this offseason. It is time to make a second foray into the market, and land a pitcher they desperately need.
In some ways, the San Diego Padres are in a situation similar to where the Philadelphia Phillies were last year. The Phillis were looking to pull their way back into contention in a difficult division, and made two surprising moves in free agency to jumpstart their ascension. In signing Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia brought in two veterans that had been through the playoff battles before and knew how to win. That experience on a young team can prove invaluable, especially for a franchise looking to return to respectability.
In the Phillies case, this led to a hot start, and a viable chance at the postseason until a late season swoon left Philadelphia with an 80-82 record. Santana has moved back to Cleveland via Seattle, but the Phillies are now considered one of the favorites to reach the playoffs. Sometimes, even if those signings do not work out, the effort and presence of those players can make a difference to the roster.
Right now, the Padres have made a splash of their own. They emerged as the surprise victors in the Manny Machado Sweepstakes, adding a middle of the order bat to a lineup that desperately needed offense. Paired with last year’s free agent signing in Eric Hosmer, the corners of the Padres infield are set for the foreseeable future.
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However, there is still one more splash that needs to happen. While San Diego has been linked to Bryce Harper, free agent Dallas Keuchel is a greater need. And, he would be the perfect fit for their young rotation.
Last season was a somewhat down year by Keuchel’s standards. He was still a solid pitcher for Houston, making a league high 34 starts last year. However, his 12-10 record, along with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.314 WHiP over his 204.2 innings, was disappointing. Yet, there was still value in his season, as Keuchel continued to eat innings and provide veteran leadership.
That leadership, as well as his stature as a top of the rotation starter, is needed on the San Diego pitching staff. At this point, the Padres projected starting rotation consists of Joey Lucchesi, Robbie Erlin, Bryan Mitchell, Eric Lauer, and Luis Perdomo. While there is some promise there, this is not the type of rotation that can lead a team to the postseason.
Keuchel, however, would be an immediate upgrade. Not only would he slot atop the Padres rotation, but he would be that stopper they would need to potentially end a losing streak. Although the Padres rotation is not where the Phillies starters were heading into the 2018 campaign, Keuchel could still serve in that Jake Arrieta role for the upcoming talent, teaching them what it takes to succeed at the major league level.
Next. Padres excellent defensive infield. dark
Manny Machado was a nice start for the San Diego Padres. However, they still have to address other holes on the roster, including the starting rotation. Adding Dallas Kuechel would be a step in that direction.