Texas Rangers: A strong case can be made for signing Dallas Keuchel

Star pitcher Dallas Keuchel remains unsigned. If his price drops enough, the Texas Rangers should try to sign him to a multi-year deal.

Now that Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are signed, the free agent focus has turned to Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel. It seems the stove is temperate for both at the moment, which is strange considering MLB opening day is only a few weeks away. Also, considering how talented each player is. The Texas Rangers won’t be making a play for Kimbrel, but will they for Keuchel?

Breaking down the financials

A lot has to go the Rangers’ way if they want to sign the 2015 Cy Young winner. Price is the primary factor.

The asking price and asking term have varied throughout the offseason. Scott Boras, Keuchel’s agent, was supposedly looking for a five-year contract back in December. As for a price, an average annual value of $20 million seems to be the number floating around.

If the Rangers express interest, they’ll be playing a game of limbo. They’ll want the bar to lower quite a bit before making a move.

In general, a potential Keuchel signing can go three ways:

(1) A team suddenly jumps out and offers him max value (i.e. Harper and Machado).

(2) The waiting game continues for a couple more weeks and he ends up signing a modest one-year deal (i.e. Mike Moustakas last offseason).

(3) He and his agent reconsider and end up taking a team-friendly deal. The offer would not meet Keuchel’s expectations, but it wouldn’t be a slap in the face either.

More from Texas Rangers News

• 3 Texas Rangers outfield trade targets not named Bryan Reynolds
• Did Jacob deGrom really mean what he said at his Texas Rangers press conference?
• Martin Perez accepting the qualifying offer looking like solid deal for the Rangers
• 4 outfielders the Texas Rangers can still pursue this winter
• Is a six-man rotation in the Texas Rangers’ near future?

The Texas Rangers fall under #3. They don’t need to take on any absurd contracts given their current rebuild. They could sign the lefty on a one-year deal and try to flip him prior to the trade deadline; however, the price would have to be very low and, let’s be honest, Keuchel isn’t signing a one-year contract for less than $15 million.

So, their best shot is probably signing him to a three-year, $45 million deal or a four-year, $60 million deal. Perhaps they toss an opt-out in there somewhere. Keuchel would have a team, he’d get decent money, a multi-year contract, and he’d be close to home.

How badly do the Rangers need Keuchel?

There’s certainly no desperation involved. Keuchel is a very good pitcher who will improve any starting rotation, especially the Rangers’. That said, the organization seems perfectly content with attacking the season with the arms that are currently in place.

Texas hopes for the best this year, but it’s no secret their competitive timeline focuses more so on 2-3 years down the road. Kuechel turned 31 years old in January. He’s coming off a good year but not a great year. The Rangers would have to assume what his talent and value would be over the next however many seasons. That’s difficult to do.

Of course, they could use him as trade bait. Signing established pitchers and trading them for prospects is sort of the organization’s M-O right now. Might as well add a pitcher with legitimate value. The Rangers could trade him this year, next year, or the year after, depending on how long they sign him for and how quickly they return to contention.

Flipping Dallas Keuchel for prospects would be one benefit. Though, the ultimate benefit would be Keuchel taking reign as the team’s ace. Texas could use an ace this year, but also the next couple years while their young pitchers are making their way to the big leagues or trying to figure out the big leagues.

Maybe the Rangers turn things around in 2020 or 2021. Maybe Keuchel plays a crucial role in a playoff run. You never know.

It’s unlikely he’ll be signed by the Texas Rangers, but a case can definitely be made in support of it. If the price is right, perhaps the organization will make a late, game-changing move.

You can share your opinion on the matter @NolanWritinFS…