MLB: Why Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel Should Be Signed

Contending Teams With Holes To Fill

Contending teams including the Brewers, Phillies, Padres, Braves, Twins, Rays, and Yankees all have all been rumored to have interest in either Keuchel or Kimbrel, but they want to hold onto that compensatory pick.

The Twins, Rays, and Yankees have the most valid excuses to be inclined to keep their pick as they currently hold the 54th, 40th, and 38th picks respectively.

Those picks would be in the second round so they could make a case that they are confident a player on their draft board will still be available by their pick.

On the other hand, the Phillies, Padres, and Braves, and Brewers should be trying to sign one of the two pitchers before the draft.

They need to use the draft pick as an advantage. The Yankees, Twins, and Rays are scared that the pick they would lose if they signed Kimbrel or Keuchel, would turn into an All-Star caliber player while Philadelphia, San Diego, Atlanta, and Milwaukee have much lower picks so they should want to bank on Keuchel or Kimbrel to boost their team’s chances of reaching the postseason.

Here is a further breakdown of why each team needs to sign either Dallas Keuchel or Craig Kimbrel…