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Reds rumors: Cincinnati Reds are “all over” Dallas Keuchel

By Drew Koch

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros reacts in the third inning as a play is reviewed against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros reacts in the third inning as a play is reviewed against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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In the latest edition of Reds rumors, the Cincinnati Reds are said to be “all over” left-handed starter Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel has played his whole career for the Houston Astros.

The Reds rumors are heating up as the Hot Stove is continuing to be stoked. Dallas Keuchel was the latest name to come across the wire as a potential target of the Cincinnati Reds. Keuchel was a big part of the starting rotation in Houston and won a World Series title with the Astros in 2017.

Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports claims that the Cincinnati Reds are “all over” the left-handed Keuchel. Heyman discusses the Reds thought that Keuchel would be a great fit for the homer-friendly confines of Great American Ball Park.

You’ll get no dispute here. Keuchel should be at or near the top of nearly every franchise looking to improve their starting pitching. Outside of Patrick Corbin, Keuchel is the best free agent starter available on the market this offseason.

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Keuchel was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Astros and has spent his entire career in Houston. With fellow starters Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and possibly Charlie Morton returning to the Houston rotation in 2019, Keuchel is unlikely to return to the Astros.

That is welcome news to the Cincinnati Reds who are in desperate need of a big-time free agent acquisition to fire up a doubting fan base. At this point in the offseason, the Reds have yet to make a splash in free agency. To be fair, neither has almost every other team in Major League Baseball.

It’s highly likely that until Bryce Harper or Manny Machado find a home that the free agent market may be a bit slow to develop. The same could be said for free agent pitchers so long as Corbin, and to a lesser extent Keuchel, remain unsigned.

A player like Keuchel is going to be able to demand a lot in free agency. The lefty is a two-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and former Cy Young Award winner. Keuchel will have a plethora of offers. Oh yeah, did I mention he’s represented by super agent Scott Boras?

When you take all those factors into consideration, the Reds will have to overpay for Keuchel’s services. He’ll be just 31-years-old entering next season and is coming off a year in which he rebounded from an injury-plagued 2017 to pitch over 200 innings. He’s done so in three of his six full seasons in the Majors.

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Keuchel has a career-ERA of 3.66 and would immediately become the ace of the Cincinnati pitching staff. This is the type of move that would get fans excited about next season. Stay tuned for any further Reds rumors regarding Keuchel.

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