Milwaukee Brewers: The latest rumors on Dallas Keuchel

Free agent starter Dallas Keuchel still hasn’t found a new home, and that’s okay. Keuchel makes sense for the Milwaukee Brewers at the right price, but what are the latest rumors around him?

With Patrick Corbin off the market, Dallas Keuchel is the best free agent starting pitcher remaining. Nate Eovaldi, J.A. Happ, and Charlie Morton have also signed new deals, and the pitching market is starting to thin.

The Milwaukee Brewers need a top starter, and Keuchel has an impressive resume. He’s a two-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner, and a World Champion. He’s also only 31 years old, and is coming off a 3.6 WAR season. There are several teams still sniffing around Keuchel, so let’s dig in to the latest rumors surrounding him.

Who’s still ‘in’ on Keuchel?

The Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres are known to have been in contact with Keuchel’s representation.

The Los Angeles Angels have also been rumored to have interest in Keuchel, but it’s unclear how much cash they have left after signing Matt Harvey. They could decide to go ‘all-in’ for 2019 with Keuchel, but they could also look at a few depth options to boost their starting staff.

The Philadelphia Phillies were also rumored to have interest in Keuchel earlier in the off-season, but they’re also thought to have interest in Manny Machado. It’s hard to see the Phillies fit Keuchel and Machado into their 2019 budget, and beyond.

Who’s ‘out’ on Keuchel?

The Washington Nationals balked at Keuchel’s asking price, and it looks the New York Yankees have reloaded their rotation for 2019. There hasn’t been much movement among the other teams linked to Keuchel.

What would a contract for Keuchel look like?

If the Milwaukee Brewers were to go in on Keuchel, they would likely have to offer a five- or six-year contract north of $100 million. Keuchel would be the most expensive free agent acquisition in team history.

Where would Keuchel fit?

He would slot in ahead of Jhoulys Chacin, Corbin Burnes, and the rest of the Milwaukee Brewers staff. He’s the Opening Day starter, and the guy they want throwing at the start of every playoff series.

Is Keuchel worth it?

Well, he could be? A six-year deal is a challenge for anyone to really live up to after age-30. However, if the Milwaukee Brewers take the next step, and make a World Series in 2019 and Keuchel plays a key role, the deal makes sense.

The Milwaukee Brewers championship window is open. The rest of the division is a bit of a mess. There isn’t a really great team in the National League right now. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers only won 92 games last year, and needed to make five deals to boost their roster. If Keuchel’s arm puts the Brewers over the top, doesn’t that deal make sense?