The D-backs have designated veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel for assignment, a source told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. Keuchel, 34, posted a 9.64 ERA in four starts for Arizona after being signed to a Minor League deal upon being released by the White Sox.
Keuchel was the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner and is a two-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove Award winner and a World Series champion with the Astros in 2017. He signed with the Braves as a free agent in ’19, and then inked a three-year, $55.5 million contract with the White Sox the following offseason.
Though he was great for Chicago during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, pitching to a 1.99 ERA over 11 starts, Keuchel struggled to a 5.28 ERA over 162 innings in ’21, before a 7.88 ERA across his first eight starts this year led the White Sox to release him.
Keuchel’s strikeout rate has been steadily decreasing since 2019, and his barrel rate, according to Statcast, has jumped over the last two seasons in particular.
The White Sox are paying the remainder of the $18 million owed to Keuchel for this season, which is the last guaranteed year on his contract.