Unsigned Impact Players
Craig Kimbrel has more career saves than any active MLB player. Dallas Keuchel has a Cy Young award and led the league in games started in 2018. So why do both of these pitchers remain unsigned a week into the MLB season?
Get Noah Mathews’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Despite his struggles in the postseason with the Red Sox last year, it is hard to imagine that there isn’t a club out there that can use the most dominant closer since his debut in 2010. Kimbrel is coming off three consecutive all-star game appearances in Boston and saved 42 games to help Boston finish with the best record the MLB has seen since Seattle in 2001. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Brewers have been in talks with the right-hander. After major moves from the Cardinals during the offseason and the Cubs getting back to full health, Milwaukee will need all the help it can get in order to repeat as NL Central champions. With Josh Hader off to a strong start closing games in Milwaukee Kimbrel may be looking at a new role if he ends up with the Brew Crew. Another rumored landing spot is back where he started in Atlanta. After winning the division crown last season, the Braves look to repeat in a stacked NL East. A return back to the team that drafted him seems like a match made in heaven, Kimbrel is a dominant closer and Atlanta has a young bullpen that can use a veteran leader. Hopefully, he finds a new home soon no matter where it is, it wouldn’t be right to see such a great player go too long without a job.
Dallas Keuchel doesn’t have quite the career accolades like Kimbrel, but he would be a very solid addition to almost any MLB rotation. After two seasons dealing with multiple injuries, Keuchel led the league in games started with 34 in 2018. There is no question that MLB teams like pitchers who can eat up innings and go out there every five days and do their job. His 3.74 ERA was just above his career average, and his 153 strikeouts were the second most in his career, only behind his 216 during his Cy Young campaign in 2015. Although he remains unsigned, Jon Morosi of MLB Network has reported that Keuchel continues to throw 95-pitch simulated games every five days in order to remain ready to go when a team comes calling. After seeing their starters struggle through the opening week, Boston may be fit for the lefty. Another potential landing spot is back in Houston where Keuchel has pitched his whole career. After winning a World Series ring in 2017 and being a fan favorite since 2014, the Astros would be open to bringing him back at a discounted price. No matter where he ends up look for Dallas Keuchel to make a positive impact on his club.
More remaining free agents that can make an impact in the MLB this season include Denard Span, Bartolo Colon, James Shields, AJ Ramos, Evan Gattis, Logan Morrison, Doug Fister, Dan Straily and Edwin Jackson.
