Left-hander Dallas Keuchel has agreed to a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics, according to reports. Keuchel is expected to join the A's Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas as he attempts to pitch in Major League Baseball for the first time in two years.
The 38-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2024, pitching four games for the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5.40 earned run average. He continued to pitch professionally in 2024 with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, holding a 3.53 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 35 2/3 innings. Keuchel was released by Omaha in August and had not joined another team until this agreement with the A's.
During his peak in the mid-to-late 2010s, Keuchel was a key part of the Houston Astros' resurgence, contributing to their 2017 World Series championship. He earned two All-Star selections and won the 2015 American League Cy Young Award, leading the league with 20 wins, 232 innings pitched, and a 1.01 WHIP. He spent seven seasons with the Astros, posting a 3.66 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 12 complete games.
Keuchel also pitched for the Atlanta Braves in 2019 and the Chicago White Sox in the COVID-shortened 2024 season. His career performance declined after his age-33 season, and he has not approached his previous award-winning form. The Oakland A's currently hold a 44-59 record and are eight games behind the leader in the AL West. The team has struggled with pitching, ranking second-worst in MLB in both ERA and WHIP.