The Brewers got a left hander Dallas Keuchel from the Mariners, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on X. The M's will receive cash consideration in return, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on X . The lefty has been with the M's on a minor league deal and not on the 40-man roster, meaning he won't immediately need a 40-man spot with the Brewers.
Keuchel, 36, signed a minor league deal with the Mariners and has made 13 Triple-A starts on the year so far. He allowed 3.93 runs per nine innings, despite pitching in the friendly confines of the Pacific Coast League. His strikeout rate of 15.6% on the year is low but he has been successful in limiting walks and putting the ball down, which has been the case this year as well. He has a 7.6% walk rate and 59.5% ground ball rate for the Rainiers.
That has generally been Keuchel's recipe in his career, as he has thrown 1625 2/3 innings with a 4.02 ERA, 18.1% strikeout rate, 7.4% walk rate and 57.7% ground ball rate. In his prime, he won the 2015 American League Cy Young by posting a 2.48 ERA with the Astros, but his results have declined since then. He has a 6.29 ERA since the start of 2021, hitting the White Sox, Diamondbacks, Rangers and Twins in that span.
Those recent low results are why he had to accept a minor league deal and why he may not have been able to crack Seattle's rotation. They may lose Bryan Woo on the injured list, as he left early last night with a hamstring strain. But even if Woo is IL-bound, the Mariners have a bullpen cycle Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert again Bryce Millerwith Emerson Hancock again Jonathan Díaz people who will replace Woo.
The Brewers, however, have more incentive to take a shot at a veteran like Keuchel. They knew that season was coming Brandon Woodruff he would have to spend the rest of the season on the disabled list from shoulder surgery, but since then he has been given plenty of company in IL. Wade Miley again Robert Gasser both need UCL surgery and are out for the year, while the boys are in favor Joe Ross again DL Hall they are on the shelf due to other issues. Jacob Junis he was returned to IL but was working freely.
That left Milwaukee with a patchwork rotation behind Freddy Peralta. The group has moved Bryse Wilson from the bullpen to a starting role and he has a 4.24 ERA but that's about a less impressive margin. Colin Rea it's the same, as he's a 33-year-old journeyman with a 3.62 ERA on the year despite a 15.6% strikeout rate. Tobias Myers again Carlos Rodríguez both are in their early seasons and have limited experience. Rodríguez has a 7.30 ERA while Myers is at 3.12, although the lower numbers suggest that the performance from Myers may not be consistent.
It's easier to see Keuchel fitting into that mix than it is in Seattle, so the Mariners shelled out some cash and let him pursue an opportunity with the Brewers. Despite the rotation challenges, the Brewers are atop the National League Central, five games back of the Cardinals, and could use some stability in the interim and perhaps make some moves at the trade deadline.
If Milwaukee plans to add Keuchel to their roster, they'll need a corresponding move, though that shouldn't be a problem. As mentioned, Gasser is out for the year but hasn't been transferred to the 60-day IL, so that's an easy way for the Brewers to open up a cap.
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