Keuchel declines $17.9 million qualifying offer
HOUSTON — Dallas Keuchel declined the Astros’ one-year $17.9 million qualifying offer Monday, actualizing an outcome considered inevitable when the team tendered the contract 10 days ago.
Should Keuchel, 30, sign with another team, the Astros will receive a 2019 draft pick after Competitive Balance Round B as compensation.
Though they had five other free agents eligible to receive a qualifying offer, the Astros extended only one before the Nov. 2 deadline — to the homegrown, Cy Young-winning lefthander.
Seven major league free agents received qualifying offers this season. Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was the only player to accept. Since 2012, eight major league players have accepted a qualifying offer.
Keuchel declining the Astros’ offer formally makes him among the most sought-after, free-agent starting pitchers in an otherwise lean market. During the 10 days he held the qualifying offer, Keuchel and his agent, Scott Boras, were permitted to survey the market and his value. MLBTradeRumors projected Keuchel would sign a four-year, $82 million deal.
Keuchel and D-Backs southpaw Patrick Corbin, 29, who also declined a qualifying offer Monday, are considered the two most proven starting pitchers in the free-agent market. Keuchel possesses more postseason experience.
“Dallas Keuchel is the Tom Glavine, Andy Pettitte of our generation,” Boras said last week during his hourlong scrum with reporters at the general manager’s meetings. ”He is one of the few guys in the postseason that gives you that true big-time performance at the right time, whether it be at home or on the road.”
Among those who didn’t accept were outfielder Bryce Harper (Nationals), closer Craig Kimbrel (Red Sox), outfielder A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks) and catcher Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers). Never one to keep mum about the success of his clients, Boras boasted Keuchel was “better than Glavine and Pettitte from age 2630.”
Keuchel attained two All-Star appearances in those five seasons. Glavine had three in his 2630 seasons. Three of Keuchel’s five seasons ended with sub-3 ERAs. Glavine had two. Pettitte had none.
“He knows how to get outs with stress on his body better than anybody in the game,” Boras said of Keuchel. “There’s going to be big demand for him for clubs who are interested in winning championships.”
The Astros slot into that number — and require starting pitching depth this offseason. Though general manager Jeff Luhnow does not comment on specific free agents, he acknowledged all six free agents did express a desire to return to the Astros.