Yankees Hot Corner – Now is the time to sign Keuchel

The New York Yankees are standing in first place at 38-20 but they still have a lot of room to improve.  Probably their biggest need for improvement is with the starting pitching.  While Domingo German has been excellent (sans a few clunkers) the rest of the staff has been inconsistent at best.

J.A. Happ swings from high end starter to worst pitcher in the league when he’s playing the Orioles.  James Paxton struggled early in the season and is just getting back to form after being on the Injured List.  C.C. Sabathia has been up and down all season and also hurt, and Masahiro Tanaka has looked like a Cy Young candidate when his splitter is right but it rarely is this season.

The Yankees have been linked to former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel but now the rumblings are getting even stronger.  According to multiple sources, the two favorites to land Keuchel are the Yankees and the Atlanta Braves.  Keuchel stated he is more than willing to shave his beard to join the Yankees, so that’s that.

Keuchel is a multiple time All-Star, former Cy Young and at one point was the best pitcher in the American League.  Part of the reason why he hasn’t been signed is because he isn’t the same pitcher he was just a few years ago but wants to be paid the same way.

He’s 31 years old and has a career 3.66 ERA so he isn’t going to be winning any awards but like Justin Verlander did with the Astros, Keuchel can be that reliable arm in the playoffs that the Yankees can go to over and over.  Keuchel doesn’t have the same stuff he used to but is still a reliable pitcher, something the Yankees desperately need.

As much success as the Yankees have had this season, their one issue has been consistency with starting pitching.  Not only does Keuchel provide that, but he also fills a void that’s still left by the absence of Luis Severino.  Instead of taxing the bullpen every five starts with an “opener” Keuchel can be that fifth starter and move his way up in the rotation eventually.

If the Yankees are going to win the World Series this season, they need good starting pitching.  They haven’t really gotten that and have still had success, but the postseason is a different beast.  The Yankees need as much depth as possible and Keuchel is their man.  Go get him Yankees, you need him more than you even know.