Phillies rumor: Club unlikely to sign Dallas Keuchel

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros looks on during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Loren Elliott/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros looks on during Game 3 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Loren Elliott/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Another Phillies rumor regarding Dallas Keuchel has come out with the starter expected to sign soon.

Free agent starter Dallas Keuchel is unlikely to sign with the Phillies, according to Jon Heyman’s latest Phillies rumor.

A guest on the Big Time Baseball Podcast on Radio.com Heyman listed the six teams who have the most interest in Keuchel: Twins, Yankees, Brewers, Rays, Cardinals, and Braves. Keuchel is willing to take a one year deal after the MLB Draft once teams can’t lose draft picks or money for signing an expensive free agent.

The 31-year-old Keuchel has a 3.66 ERA, but his ERA has been below 3.00 just once since he won the Cy Young in 2015 with Houston. He allowed a league-high 211 hits last year and faced more batters than any pitcher, staring down 874 of them.

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Philadelphia could certainly use a starting pitcher after seeing Zach Eflin return to the injured list with a stiff back. Gabe Kapler will implement “the opener” Saturday night by starting reliever Jose Alvarez before deploying Cole Irvin and Vince Velasquez versus a left-handed heavy Dodgers team.

Phillies starters have a combined 3.2 WAR, the third best in baseball, and 42 percent of their starts have been “quality starts,” slightly above the league average. With the exception of Eflin, each of the Phillies starters has an ERA above 3.90 and a 1.19 WHIP this season.

Another Phillies rumor that remains out there suggests they’re more interested in trading for a pitcher such as Mike Minor, Zach Greinke, or Madison Bumgarner, as well as adding Craig Kimbrel.

Greinke has been scouted by the Phillies and Bumgarner reportedly placed the club on his no-trade list. Should the Phillies finalize a deal for Jay Bruce, they could be strapped for cash in a deal involving Greinke, who has more than $100 million remaining on his contract.

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