The Astros and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel avoided arbitration on Friday, agreeing on a one-year, $7.25 million contract in the lefty’s first year of arbitration eligibility. That, as Jon Heyman notes, is a record for first-time arbitration-eligible players.
Keuchel, 28, will be eligible for arbitration in 2017 and ’18 as well, and can become eligible for free agency after the 2018 season. He and the Astros are expected to discuss a contract extension, however.
This past season, Keuchel went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and a 216/51 K/BB ratio in 232 innings. He received 22 of 30 first place votes in AL Cy Young balloting, beating out runner-up David Price.
