Keuchel staying sharp, fielding offers in Cali
Unsigned lefty facing hitters and meeting with teams at agent's complex
Dallas Keuchel is pitching now, even though he remains a free agent.
Keuchel’s agent, Scott Boras, told MLB.com that Keuchel faced hitters and threw 80 pitches on Wednesday at the Boras Sports Training Institute in Newport Beach, Calif. The 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner is the top free-agent starting pitcher still available.
“He’s going through a full Spring Training, just like [Kyle] Lohse did,” Boras said, referring to Lohse’s program before signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Brewers on March 25, 2013.
Despite joining the team so late in Spring Training, Lohse started a regular-season game 11 days after signing the contract. He posted a 3.35 ERA in 198 2/3 innings that season.
Boras said a couple of teams have sent representatives to watch Keuchel pitch in California and speak with the southpaw in person. Boras said Keuchel "is receiving offers," but he did not specify which teams had made them.
The Astros -- the only Major League team Keuchel has pitched for -- have made one- and two-year offers to him, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.
One source said the Braves have continued to monitor the market for Keuchel and other starting pitchers, but the team is wary of surrendering the Draft pick required to sign Keuchel. Atlanta’s rotation faces some uncertainty, given that Mike Foltynewicz will be unavailable to start the season due to an elbow injury.