Twins sign Scott Boras client Keuchel to a minor league deal

[Brandon]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/twins-sign-dallas-keuchel.html
 

I think this is a show of good faith for Scott Boras as we seem to sign more and more of his clients.  

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Having an in with Boras isn't the worst thing in the world.

[Danchat]

Here's hoping he stays at AAA and we don't need him.

[DocBauer]

A "why not" type of flier. I like it. You're adding depth and experience to St Paul and might end up with a back of the rotation or LH pen option out of it. And all it costs you is a smaller, make good contract and nothing more. 

[gman]

IF Maeda is injured in the next 30 days, we will need someone to fill the 5th spot in the rotation. Varland needs to work on some things at 3A and I wouldn't want him to be brought back early in the process. No other starter at 3A is really worth bringing up.

[IaBeanCounter]

I don't expect Keuchel to be a starter, but he could be an effective left hand reliever similar to Jim Kaat.   

[weitz41]

Hey.. why not?

I'd like to add something about his wife but that'll probably get me in trouble with the site's rules.

Welcome Dallas Keuchel and Kelly Nash.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'd say something smart-assy about it but I honestly don't even care enough to try.

[CRF]

C'mon Falvey...Keuchel? Really? 

[TouchEmAllGuy]

He was great on my Twins Dynasty team on MLB the Show '18. LOL

[farmerguychris]

Can't believe how far this guy has fallen in just 2 years.  Guess this is why the F.O. is reluctant to sign big name pitchers to long term deals.

https://clutchpoints.com/twins-news-minnesota-signs-former-cy-young-winner-deal

Confirmed on muiltiple pages - can't hurt I guess as long as we don't force him into the big league roster simply because of his resume.

 

[Beast]

I like it.  Unfortunately for him, SP the only position on the team where we don’t absolutely stink.

Maybe he’d be willing to throw some innings in relief.  With guys like Gray, Lopez, and Ober not going deep into games, a guy to come in and give 2-3 quality innings and bridge to our only 2 good relievers would be very valuable.  That’s assuming he gets back to a place where he can pitch quality innings.

[Theodore Tollefson]

The Twins made a move Thursday morning to add pitching depth to their minor-league system with Dallas Keuchel. 

Image courtesy of Brian Fluharty, USA Today Sports

The Twins have added more depth into their minor-league system as they have reportedly signed 2015 American League Cy Young winner, Dallas Keuchel, to a minor league deal.

The deal was first reported by New York Post reporter, Jon Heyman, and later confirmed with team sources by Twins Daily. 

Keuchel, 35, has not been in professional baseball since being released by the Texas Rangers on September 4, 2022. He spent the 2022 season in the Rangers, White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations, throwing a total of 60 2/3 innings between the three teams. He posted a 9.20 earned run average, 5.52 fielding independent pitching, and 2.06 WHIP. 

Keuchel has never been a flamethrower on the mound, but his fastball velocity saw a big decline from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, it averaged 89 mph, and by 2022, it dropped down to 87.9 mph.

He has reportedly spent time at Driveline Baseball in Kent, Washington, over recent months and brought his average fastball velocity back to 89 mph. 

Keuchel is expected to begin his time in the Twins organization with Triple A, St. Paul Saints. 

View full article

[adorduan]

Meh, dumpster diving again. No harm with a minor league deal, but sure as hell doesn't excite me....

[DuluthDuke]

Left handed. Breathing. No risk. Why not..

[chpettit19]

As far as end of June signings go, it's just fine. Sure hope we have no need for him in the rotation, assuming he's not turning the clock back 8 years. But never hurts to have another veteran voice over in St Paul.

[KirbyDome89]

For the love of god do not find a way to give this guy a single inning with the big league club. 

The risk btw is that the Twins do just that. 

[Shaitan]

He can't be worse that Aaron Sanchez in the same role.

[IndianaTwin]

Why would we want to take a chance on someone like Keuchel, when a TJS guy is starting tomorrow and our starters in St. Paul are now Lawyerson (4.60), Varland (just sent down), Enlow (now with one AAA start), Sanchez (5.12), Woods-Richardson (7.47) and Dobnak (5.02)? 

Seriously, there's no real risk here. As others have noted, minor league contract, lefty, potential to go a couple innings at a time in the bullpen, MVP/CYA votes only three years ago, Boras client. As lottery picks go, it's worth a shot.

Also, the Twins have generally pursued character guys, and even if that's all he's got, that's still a good guy to have hanging out with Enlow and friends as a bonus pitching coach. I'm sure there's some learning to be had. 

[SwainZag]

Adding a guy who could possibly be a left handed option out of the pen is worth it.  There's really zero risk and zero reason to dislike the signing. 

[strumdatjag]

I’m more excited that Randy Dobnak looked good during his last start. 

[mrtwinsfan]

Theilbar ??   worse than were told, ????

[jimbo92107]

Dallas Keuchel does one thing really well - He keeps the ball down in the bottom third of the zone. He also never throws a ball exactly straight, always bending it at least a bit. 

Now, some guys will hit a three iron or a one wood off those pitches, but they'll have to guess how much it's going to bend, which ain't easy. That's why Keuchel has survived with such a mild heater. 

[Jocko87]

8 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Why would we want to take a chance on someone like Keuchel, when a TJS guy is starting tomorrow and our starters in St. Paul are now Lawyerson (4.60), Varland (just sent down), Enlow (now with one AAA start), Sanchez (5.12), Woods-Richardson (7.47) and Dobnak (5.02)? 

Just read the minor league recap where an infielder is pitching in AAA. Most likely that’s all this is about, cover some AAA innings to keep the taxi squad in order and a solid for Boras to get him some real innings. He’d have to look phenomenal to sniff the 40 man but if he does I’d rather flip him. 

Win win. 

[Rigby]

Scottie sure can find the small pond when his clients have regressed immensely.... 

[stringer bell]

14 hours ago, mrtwinsfan said:

Theilbar ??   worse than were told, ????

Those darned obliques. Always slow to heal.

13 hours ago, jimbo92107 said:

Dallas Keuchel does one thing really well - He keeps the ball down in the bottom third of the zone. He also never throws a ball exactly straight, always bending it at least a bit. 

Now, some guys will hit a three iron or a one wood off those pitches, but they'll have to guess how much it's going to bend, which ain't easy. That's why Keuchel has survived with such a mild heater. 

With each time Keuchel has entered the open market, I have less wanted the Twins to consider giving Keuchel a chance. I am totally non-plussed by this move. He's left handed and breathing and has had success before. He hasn't been effective since Emilio Pagán was effective, but stranger things have happened. There are plenty of innings to be thrown at AAA and if Keuchel can be effective there, maybe there's a chance he can do so for the Twins.

[In My La Z boy]

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Those darned obliques. Always slow to heal.

With each time Keuchel has entered the open market, I have less wanted the Twins to consider giving Keuchel a chance. I am totally non-plussed by this move. He's left handed and breathing and has had success before. He hasn't been effective since Emilio Pagán was effective, but stranger things have happened. There are plenty of innings to be thrown at AAA and if Keuchel can be effective there, maybe there's a chance he can do so for the Twins.

And, as said above, it is a solid fist bump to Boros, which is a good PR move. No harm here, and maybe, just maybe. I would NOT have thought Kershaw would be doing what he is doing this year. His fastball speed is 89 on a good day.

[Doctor Gast]

We don't owe Boros anything (although FO think they do), there are many more that are much better than Kuechel. Hope they don't commit to him, keep him in AAA, We could use a potential emergency starter, Kuechel isn't it.