Minnesota Twins Sign Former Cy Young Winner

The last time he appeared in the major leagues, it wasn't pretty. A 9.20 ERA, a 2.06 WHIP, a .358 opponents' batting average, a .425 opponents' on-base percentage, and a 2-9 record. But former Cy Young winner Dallas Kuechel is back for more. The Minnesota Twins are giving him a shot. 

We have a comeback attempt, ladies and gentlemen!

The Twins are bringing in Dallas Keuchel on a Minor League deal, per @JonHeyman, as he tries to re-find his Cy Young form. pic.twitter.com/ymgeVDTbLZ

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) June 22, 2023

It's a minor league deal for the 35-year-old, who spent 2022 bouncing between the Chicago White Sox (7.88 ERA), Arizona Diamondbacks (9.64 ERA) and Texas Rangers (12.60 ERA). It was a far cry from his Cy Young days with the Houston Astros in 2015, when the left-hander went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. 

Keuchel is also a former two-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glover on the mound. In 11 big-league seasons, he has a 3.98 ERA and a 2.49 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But he hasn't been a major league-competent pitcher since 2020. 

He's been working at an elite baseball development facility to try to regain some of his lost touch. 

1/6 🧵Dallas Keuchel has been tirelessly challenging aging @DrivelineBB over the last 6 months.

A reminder of his outlier ability to outperform "stuff"-centric projections...

In seasons where his velo has averaged >88mph, his xFIP has ALWAYS trumped that of a league average SP. pic.twitter.com/a3QOCtm29O

— Chris Langin (@LanginTots13) June 12, 2023

Minnesota already has a big-time Top 3 in its rotation with Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, along with Bailey Ober and the soon-to-return-from-injury Kenta Maeda filling out the staff. Keuchel will not have any pressure on him to be a key contributor, so he'll be able to work at his own pace. 

Photo: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports