Days after inking Gio Gonzalez, the White Sox add another lefty to their pitching staff in Dallas Keuchel.
Owner Jerry Reinsdorf shot down another narrative after this signing as his relationship with Dallas’s agent Scott Boras has gone sour over his tenure. Last year, Keuchel waited til June to get signed due to the draft pick compensation attached to him by the Atlanta Braves. He made 19 starts with an 8-8 record, 3.75 ERA, 1.367 WHIP, 91 Ks and 39 BBs over 112.2 innings. The southpaw isn’t known for having overpowering stuff but his 60.1% ground ball rate in 2019 should play well in a hitters park like Guaranteed Rate Field.
Keuchel was the AL Cy Young winner in 2015, a 2 Time All-Star, 4X Gold Glove winner, and 2017 WS Champion with the Houston Astros. This is exactly the veteran presence that a young staff like the Sox needed. He is a similar pitcher to White Sox legend Mark Buehrle, known as well for his ground ball tendencies. The lefty will probably slot into the 2 hole behind ace RHP Lucas Giolito and in front of Dylan Cease, Reynaldo Lopez and newly acquired Gio Gonzalez.
This move puts the Sox into great position to compete in the AL Central. The Indians are rumored to be trading star SS Francisco Lindor, the Twins are still in search of pitching, along with the rebuilding Tigers and Royals. GM Rick Hahn has delivered so far this off-season after acquiring switch hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal, lefty power bat RF Nomar Mazara and LHP Gio Gonzalez. With perhaps another bat and a couple relievers acquired the Sox could be one of the breakout teams in the American League in 2020.
Featured Photo: Houston Astros Twitter
