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Keuchel willing to shave iconic beard if he signs with Yankees

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Free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel has made his intentions clear if the New York Yankees come knocking. Keuchel would be willing to shave his trademark beard and go clean-shaven in the Bronx.

“I think everybody is in play right now,” Keuchel said, according to Mark Fischer of the New York Daily News. “The lure of the city would be really cool. I like pitching in Yankee Stadium.

"For the right opportunity, I would happily shave this beard off," Keuchel added. "It’s all about winning. I’ve made that very clear from Day 1 of my career starting to this position right now."

The Yankees have a facial hair policy that prevents players and coaches from sporting beards. Don Mattingly, Jason Giambi, and Ron Guidry have shown, however, that mustaches are acceptable.

While it may come as an initial shock to the senses for the normally hirsute Keuchel to cut off his prominent facial hair, he has been fresh-faced on the mound before.

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Back in 2012, he had some stubble, but it was a far cry from the look he's known for years later.

If the Yankees were to sign him, they'd be on the hook for a compensatory draft pick, as the Houston Astros issued Keuchel a $17.9-million qualifying offer.

The 31-year-old has spent his entire seven-year career with the Astros, making two All-Star appearances, winning the 2015 AL Cy Young Award, and being part of a World Series championship in 2017. This past season, the southpaw started 34 games and went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA over 204 2/3 innings.

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