3 Options for the Twins with Dallas Keuchel’s Pending Opt-Out

Minnesota agreed to a minor league deal with Dallas Keuchel at the end of June. He was coming off of two disastrous seasons where he posted a 6.35 ERA in over 222 innings. Keuchel has never been a flame-throwing lefty, but his average fastball velocity dipped to under 88 mph last season. No teams showed interest in him over the winter, but Keuchel wasn’t ready to retire. Instead, he headed to Driveline Baseball and started working on his repertoire. 

Keuchel added some velocity while also seeing some improvement in his sinker and sweeper during his time at Driveline. With improved results, the Twins hoped that he could show the ability to be a back-of-the-rotation starter or even a bulk-inning reliever. His performance with the Saints has been terrific, and that might leave the Twins with some tough decisions before his opt-out on August 1st. 

In six starts, Keuchel allowed four earned runs (1.13 ERA) on 28 hits in 32 innings. He posted a 28-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His numbers have been terrific, and he is likely done pitching in minor-league games. Either the Twins or another big-league team will want Keuchel pitching innings for them in the season’s final months.

Following his final start, Keuchel said, “I know my opt-out is on Tuesday. Derek (Falvey) and the organization have been very transparent with me. A lot of teams that need help still are figuring out moves in the big leagues. This is a place that I want to be, and I’d still like to be up with Minnesota. I have provided what I needed to do, and shown myself what I am still capable of doing.”

So, what are the Twins’ options with Keuchel before his opt-out deadline?

Option 1: Add Keuchel to the Twins’ 26-man roster
According to reports, the Twins considered trading Kenta Maeda to make room for Keuchel in the team’s starting rotation. However, Maeda has recently been the team’s best starter, so he forced the team to readjust their plans. Minnesota has two scheduled off days in less than a week, so the club has dropped down to 12 pitchers on the active roster. The Twins can add Keuchel to the 26-man roster following Monday’s off-day before the St. Louis series. Keuchel can be added as another long-man in the bullpen, or the club can temporarily switch to a six-man starting rotation, a strategy the front office has considered in 2023. 

Option 2: Trade Keuchel
Another option is to trade Keuchel if the Twins get an appropriate offer or if the team can’t find room for him on the 26-man roster. His Triple-A performance indicates that he can be a capable back-of-the-rotation option, and plenty of teams need depth to make it through the second half. Keuchel likely won’t bring back a significant return, but he might garner a lower-level minor-league player with potential upside. The Twins are expected to make multiple trades before the deadline so that the club can include Keuchel in a deal. There is also a possibility the club trades another starter, opening a spot for Keuchel at the big-league level. 

Option 3: Allow Keuchel to Exercise His Opt-Out
Allowing Keuchel to leave for nothing is the least likely option for the Twins at this point. Minnesota would only do this if Keuchel drew no trade interest or if they wanted to allow Keuchel to select his next destination. His opt-out aligns nicely with the trade deadline’s conclusion, letting him know which contending teams need rotation help. Besides losing him for nothing, the Twins likely want to avoid seeing him jump to a team like the Guardians, which are in direct competition with Minnesota for the AL Central title.

Which option is the most likely for the Twins and Keuchel? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.