The Atlanta Braves have reportedly emerged as the front-runner to sign free-agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
The New York Yankees, however, are reportedly still in the mix to recruit Keuchel.
As of Monday - the beginning of the 2019 MLB Draft - both Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel were no longer tied to draft-pick compensation as a result of being tendered and rejecting one-year, $17.9-million qualifying offers from their previous teams. Kimbrel reportedly inked a three-year, $43-million deal with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.
Keuchel, 31, is four years removed from winning the 2015 AL Cy Young award and finishing fifth in MVP voting, posting a 2.48 ERA and 2.91 FIP over 232 innings with a 20-8 record as a member of the Houston Astros.
Since then, Keuchel has made one All-Star appearance and won two Gold Gloves. After pitching fewer than 170 innings in back-to-back seasons, Keuchel eclipsed the 200-inning plateau last year for the third time in his career, authoring a 3.74 ERA and 3.69 FIP.
