The Chicago White Sox made a statement Saturday night, as they signed Dallas Keuchel to a three year deal with a vesting option for 2023.
Over the past two offseasons, the Chicago White Sox have made every effort to attract a top free agent. While the likes of Zack Wheeler and Manny Machado signed elsewhere, the White Sox were able to ink the top free agent catcher, Yasmani Grandal, to a four year deal. Gio Gonzalez had signed to fill out the rotation, but the Southsiders still needed help if they were truly going to contend.
Saturday night, the White Sox made a statement that they are serious about ending the rebuild. They signed free agent Dallas Keuchel to a three year contract worth $55.5 million, with a vesting option for 2023 that could push the total value of the deal to $74 million.
Keuchel to White Sox. 3/$55.5 with a vesting 4th year that could take to 4/$74.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 22, 2019
After being tagged with the Qualifying Offer last offseason, Keuchel waited into the 2019 season to sign with the Braves on June 7th, receiving a one year deal worth $13 million. This year, without the burden of the QO, Keuchel was able to get the type of payday he expected during the previous offseason.
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Although he appeared in just 19 games with the Braves, he still had a typically solid season. Keuchel posted an 8-8 record, along with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.367 WHiP. In his 112.2 innings, he struck out 91 batters while issuing just 39 walks.
Chances are, Keuchel will never return to the form that he displayed in 2015, when he had his breakout season en route to winning the AL Cy Young award. However, he is a steady option atop the rotation, a battle tested veteran who has plenty of experience in the postseason and during the run to the postseason.
It is that experience that makes Keuchel worth the contract to the White Sox. In theory, the trio of Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, and Michael Kopech will form a devastating core for the rotation. However, there are questions surrounding each pitcher – Giolito needs to prove that his breakthrough 2019 campaign was not a fluke, Cease struggled in his first look at the majors, and Kopech is coming off of Tommy John surgery.
Given those questions and the youth in the rotation, Keuchel is the perfect addition. He can essentially serve as another coach, a veteran mentor to the young starters. Keuchel also slots nicely into the rotation, a possible stopper for any losing streaks. And, he shows the young core that ownership and the front office believe they are ready to take that next step, as they spent the money to supplement the roster in order to contend.
The Chicago White Sox made a statement in adding Dallas Keuchel. The rebuild is over.