Cubs: Is Dallas Keuchel a possible replacement for Cole Hamels?
The Chicago Cubs need to look at upgrading their pitching staff this offseason, and since they will not be bringing back Cole Hamels, should they look to bring Dallas Keuchel in?
The Chicago Cubs need to upgrade their pitching staff heading into the 2020 MLB season, and since they won’t be bringing back Cole Hamels after he signed with the Atlanta Braves, could Dallas Keuchel be a possible replacement for Hamels?
Now that we are passed Thanksgiving and headed into December, the MLB offseason is officially in full swing. Winter Meetings start on Monday, December 8th and run through the 12th.
Baseball fans know that during the winter meetings is when teams usually make huge trades and big free-agent signings. This offseason, starting pitching is stacked, led by Gerrit Cole, and Stephen Strasburg. As a Cubs fans, I’d obviously love it if Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer were able to bring in a guy like Cole or even Strasburg, but it looks like they aren’t even in on either of those two.
Cole and Strasburg are probably looking for $200+ million, which the Cubs won’t be able to offer. If the Cubs pass on other potentially less expensive starting pitching options like Madison Bumgarner and Hyun-Jin Ryu, they’ll have to look elsewhere.
One potential option that would be a good fit is Keuchel, who has not yet been linked to the Cubs at all. After spending the first seven years of his career in Houston, Keuchel signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves last offseason. He made 19 starts last year, posting an 8-8 record, and a 3.75 ERA, in 112 innings pitched, to go along with 91 strikeouts.
Since entering the majors in 2012 with the Houston Astros, Keuchel has had quite the stat sheet, to say the least. In that time he’s logged 1,302 innings pitched, with a 3.67 ERA, a 3.80 FIP, and a 3.52 xFIP.
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After holding out last season until June in hopes of receiving a long-term contract, it didn’t happen for the veteran lefty. Instead, he ended up signing a one-year deal with the Braves. So if the Cubs would like to bring in a veteran lefty like Keuchel they should look into offering him a long term contract.