Keuchel: 'I've made pitches to Price' to join Astros
Dallas Keuchel wants to bring a championship to Houston, and he's campaigning for the Astros to break the bank and sign one of the top pitchers available on the free-agent market this fall to make that goal a reality.
Keuchel, who earned his first Cy Young Award with a brilliant 2015 campaign, would love to team up with the runner-up in voting, David Price.
"The baseball fan in me definitely would like to see an upgrade but that's not in my control," Keuchel told the Houston Chronicle's Evan Drellich. "I know I've made pitches to David Price - it's just the baseball fan in me at the end of the day. I just play ... I think (the bosses) know that we're in a good position."
Price is projected to fetch a seven-year, $191-million contract in free agency, which is likely too steep a price for Houston. The thought of Price forming a two-headed monster with Keuchel at the top of the Astros' rotation, though, is terrifying for AL hitters.
KEUCHEL VS. PRICE IN 2015
| Player | WAR | ERA | FIP | K:BB | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 6.4 | 2.45 | 2.78 | 4.79 | 0.69 |
| Keuchel | 6.1 | 2.48 | 2.91 | 4.24 | 0.66 |
Houston lost southpaw Scott Kazmir to free agency, leaving Keuchel as the only left-handed option in the team's projected rotation, which is rounded out by Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers, Scott Feldman, and Lance McCullers.
The Chicago Cubs are believed to have the inside track on signing Price because of his longstanding relationship with manager Joe Maddon from their time together with the Tampa Bay Rays. Chicago's front office also expressed its willingness to spend on acquiring pitching at all levels to help boost the club ahead of the 2016 season.
Keuchel, who went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA in 33 starts, received 22 of 30 first-place votes to become the third Astros pitcher to capture Cy Young honors. Price, the 2012 AL Cy Young recipient, captured the other eight first-place votes.