PITCHING STAFF COULD LOOK DIFFERENT.
Offseason status of McCullers, Keuchel and Morton means rotation could have new look
Four words less than 24 hours after the Astros were eliminated from the postseason spoke volumes.
“I love you, Houston,” Dallas Keuchel tweeted Friday.
The tweet went viral immediately and the inevitable conversation started.
Keuchel, 30, a free agent this offseason, might not be back with the Astros next season.
Another starter, Charlie Morton, 34, is also entering free agency. And another, Lance McCullers Jr., 25, has decisions concerning his health.
The rotation with which the Astros started their 2017 campaign could look different next year.
Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole — the two best and most consistent pitchers on the team are back. Beyond that, a lot is up in the air.
It’s hard to imagine that Keuchel will be back in Houston. The lefthander has done enough in his career with the Astros to be picked up and paid well. This year, he made $13.2 million. The Astros would have to put up more to bring him back.
Keuchel was emotional following the Game 5 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday night. He fought back tears in the clubhouse.
“I would more than love to be back here,” he said. “I've made that known since day one.”
That said, he is going to do what’s best for him this offseason.
“I’ve given my heart and soul for seven full years, and I don’t know, this is the opportunity of a lifetime (to be a free agent), and if you’re fortunate enough to be in a position, you’d be a fool not to test the waters,” he said.
Keuchel has been with the Astros since 2012. The Astros were rebuilding and Keuchel played a major role in that. Within a couple of years, he was a face of the franchise.
Keuchel’s bar set high in 2015
In 2014, he went 12-9 with a 2.93 ERA. The next year, he won the Cy Young after pitching 232 innings and striking out 216 batters. He finished the regular season 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA.
This season he went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA.
“This team is special, and they got a few guys that could be here for the long haul, and I’d like to stay in this locker room, but I don’t know,” he said.
No one does. The rotation was often lauded for being one of the best in the majors this season. Next year, it could look a lot different.
Morton considered retirement after this season, but after Game 5, he said he wanted to return in 2019.
He would like to return to the Astros.
“I’d love to be a part of this again,” Morton said. “Ultimately, it’s not really up to me. It’s not solely up to me.”
Just like with Keuchel, the Astros would have to put up more money to keep Morton. He made $7 million this year in the second of a two-year deal.
McCullers has been a quality player for the Astros and he is back in 2019, but there are rumors he might need Tommy John surgery and might miss next season.
He hasn’t confirmed anything and initially the injury he was battling was said to come from swinging a bat.
After Game 7, he said he would look into his options for his injured right arm.
“I’ve definitely been pitching through some stuff and that’s all going to be figured out here in the next couple weeks,” McCullers said. “I was pitching through a lot of stuff, a lot of guys were playing through a lot of stuff. My only goal was to win the World Series, I had no other intention and no other goals. We’ll figure it out moving forward.”
The next day, he tweeted: “Houston, I want to say thank you!!! Thank you for everything over these last 2 seasons. We wanted to bring home another title but we fell short. I am damn proud to wear the Astros uniform & go to war for these guys & for you these last two years. Thank you for everything.”
If Keuchel and Morton head to new teams next season and if McCullers is out for the year, the Astros have a few options available on the current roster.
Replacement candidates
Collin McHugh went from starting to the bullpen and it’s logical to believe he could go back to starting. Rookie Josh James started three games this season and could be an option.
But the Astros might have to sign another starter if they don’t retain Keuchel or Morton.
It’s hard to picture the Astros without Keuchel, but it’s understandable for him to go after bigger money. It’s also understandable for the Astros not to give more.
Verlander and Cole are a strong 1-2 punch. The two of them make the Astros tough to beat.
Now the Astros have to figure out who to put with them.