Former 2015 Cy Young Award winner hits free agency

Dallas Keuchel opts out of his contract with the Minnesota Twins (MLB News). 

From 2014-2020 Dallas Keuchel was one of the league’s most dominant starting pitchers.  He accumulated all of the above mentioned accolades during that stretch with the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox.  Unfortunately he fell upon hard times after the shortened 2020 season.

Since 2021 he has pitched for numerous organizations including big league stints with the Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Texas Rangers.  Most recently he had been in the Minnesota Twins organization and pitching in the minor leagues.  On August 1 he opted out of his contract and became a free agent.

Dallas Keuchel joined the Twins minor league Triple-A team in June and since has made six starts.  He has pitched to a 1.13 ERA in 32 innings over that time.  His 21.2% strikeout rate and 9.1% walk rate are not spectacular, but a 61.5% grounder rate does catch one’s eye.

It will be interesting to see if any team that did not get a starting pitcher at the deadline looks to add Dallas Keuchel or not.  It would be a low-risk gamble but his Triple-A numbers show that he may have something left in the tank to provide to a contending team.