The White Sox announced their deal with free agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel on Monday.
It’s a three-year, $55.5 million contract with the former Cy Young Award winner, and it includes a club option for 2023. Keuchel will receive $18 million each season from 2020-22, while the Sox hold a $20-million option for 2023 with a $1.5-million buyout.
“We viewed Dallas as one of the premier free agent pitchers available this winter and so are thrilled to add him to this team and to our starting rotation,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. “Dallas is a great competitor who we foresee throwing valuable innings in meaningful games for us over the next several years and leading our entire pitching staff through his example day in and day out.”
Keuchel, who will turn 32 Tuesday, went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA over 112 1⁄3 innings and 19 starts. He posted a 2.55 ERA over his final nine starts.
Keuchel said the White Sox’ push toward a “winning window” was a factor in his signing. And “the group of guys,” he said. “I heard good things about Abreu and the clubhouse.”
Keuchel is a two-time AL All-Star — 2015 and 2017 — and four-time Gold Glove winner.
After three years of rebuilding, the Sox have added catcher Yasmani Grandal, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion and left-handers Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez to their young core in free agency and traded for 24-year-old right fielder Nomar Mazara this offseason.
“We view this as the next logical step in the process,” Hahn said.
