Keuchel's comeback bid
Oakland Athletics Sign Former Cy Young Winner Dallas Keuchel to Minor League Contract
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Key Points
1
In 2015, Keuchel won the AL Cy Young with a 2.48 ERA and a 20-8 record, and led the league in wins (20), innings pitched (232) and WHIP (1.01).
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In 2025, he pitched for the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals’ Triple-A) and posted a 3.53 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 35 2/3 innings.
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Keuchel spent part of 2024 in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines before returning to North America.
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He was released last August and did not sign with another organization until this Athletics minor-league deal.
The Oakland Athletics have signed left-hander Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, according to Reuters. Keuchel, 38, is a former AL Cy Young Award winner who last pitched in the majors for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. He will report to Oakland's Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.
The deal is low-risk depth move. Oakland's pitching staff has struggled with injuries this season, and Keuchel gives the club a veteran arm with big-league experience. It is not a guaranteed path to the majors, but it keeps the door open.
From Cy Young Peak to Triple-A Comeback Trail
Keuchel was once one of the best pitchers in baseball. In 2015, he won the AL Cy Young Award with a 20-8 record and a 2.48 ERA. He also led the league in innings pitched (232) and WHIP (1.01). He made two All-Star teams and anchored Houston's rotation for years. His career ERA sits at 4.04 over 13 seasons.
His path back to pro ball has not been simple. He pitched in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024 before returning to North America. He then spent time with the Omaha Storm Chasers — the Royals' Triple-A team — in 2025, posting a 3.53 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 35 2/3 innings. Oakland released him last August, and he went unsigned until now.
Why Oakland Is Betting on a 38-Year-Old Veteran
Minor league deals cost very little. Teams use them to add experienced arms without taking up a roster spot. If a player performs, the club can call him up. If not, there is almost no downside. For a team like Oakland, which is rebuilding, that math makes sense.
Oakland's rotation has been hit by injuries this season. That creates openings. Keuchel's experience pitching deep into games — he averaged more than six innings per start during his best years — makes him a useful option. He is not expected to be a star. He is expected to eat innings and keep the team afloat if needed.
Keuchel's Recent Numbers Give Reason for Cautious Hope
Keuchel's 2025 Triple-A numbers were solid. A 3.53 ERA over nearly 36 innings shows he can still get hitters out. Thirty strikeouts in that span is modest, but left-handed pitchers who rely on ground balls and location do not need to overpower hitters to succeed.
Still, age and decline are real factors. He has not been a reliable major league starter since his time with the Chicago White Sox. His last full season was in 2021. Teams have passed on him multiple times. The A's are not counting on a Cy Young version of Keuchel — just a professional who can help a young pitching staff.
What This Move Means for Oakland's Pitching Plan
The A's are in a rebuild. They are not chasing a playoff spot. Moves like this one are about building depth and giving young players support. Keuchel can mentor younger arms in Las Vegas. His experience — 13 seasons, World Series rings, All-Star games — has real value in a clubhouse.
If Keuchel pitches well in Triple-A, Oakland could call him up. That would give him one more shot at the majors at 38. It would also give the A's a steady hand during a rough stretch. Either way, the risk is low and the potential upside is real. That is exactly the kind of signing a rebuilding team should make.
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