Let the bidding war begin.
The Yankees and Braves are now the favorites to sign 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, according to MLB.com.
What makes the situation even more entertaining is the two teams are reportedly close on money, which means they could go back and forth in the fight over Keuchel in the coming days.
According to a source, the Yankees and Braves are the favorites to sign Dallas Keuchel. Both teams are believed to be in the same area with their offers at the moment.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) June 4, 2019
According to a report from MLB Network Radio, Keuchel is looking for a deal in the one-year, $18 million range which would be a tick more than the $17.9 million qualifying offer the Astros gave him during the offseason.
Keuchel would hit free agency after the year is up, but it could be easier for him to sign this time around since he won't have a draft pick attached to him this season.
The 31-year-old lefty remains unsigned at this point in the year for a couple of reasons. For one, he feels he hasn't been given an offer worthy of his value, and two, he had that draft pick attached to him which teams won't often give up to sign a player.
Like Keuchel, closer Craig Kimbrel also remains unsigned despite a decorated career. A big reason for that was draft pick compensation, which came off at 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday.
Keuchel is a two-time All-Star and won a World Series with the Astros in 2017. He is coming off of a year in which he went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 204 2/3 innings pitched for Houston.
He is also reportedly willing to shave his beard to play for the Yankees.