Page 20 - AT

A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 31 december 2019

Keuchel

Continued from Page 18 also brought back slugger
Jose Abreu on a $50 million,
He helped lead the Astros three-year deal, acquired
to the 2017 World Series outfielder Nomar Mazara
title. Keuchel also was a from the Texas Rangers
free agent last year, but he and added lefty starter Gio
struggled to find work. He González on a $5 million,
signed a roughly $13 mil- one-year contract that in-
lion, one-year deal with the cludes a 2021 option.
Atlanta Braves in June and The flurry of moves caught
went 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA for Keuchel's attention.
the NL East champions. "They're really pushing to-
"The character is something wards kind of opening that
and the reputation is some- winning window," he said,
thing that you build over "and I think in the AL Cen-
the length of a career," tral there's about a three-
Hahn said on a conference to five-year gap right now
call, "and Dallas has been to really push it.
someone that we've ad- "I know Rick didn't use the In this Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 file photo, Atlanta Braves pitcher Dallas Keuchel delivers during the
mired from that standpoint word push. I like to use the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York.
from afar for a while now." word push just because 162 Associated Press
The long-bearded veter- (games) is long, but it goes
an joins catcher Yasmani quick and the years go by Tommy John surgery. "You win and lose with the Moncada, Tim Anderson
Grandal and slugger Edwin quick, too." Keuchel also pointed to catchers," he said, "and I and Eloy Jiménez. Top pros-
Encarnación as major ad- Keuchel and González Chicago's catchers as a think that's really going to pect Nick Madrigal might
ditions to the White Sox this join a rotation led by All- major reason for his deci- be a strength for us this year also be ready to get signifi-
offseason. Grandal signed Star Lucas Giolito that also sion to join the team. Gran- and hopefully for years to cant time at second base.
a $73 million, four-year includes Reynaldo López dal is well-regarded for his come." The White Sox were 72-89
contract last month, and and Dylan Cease. Prom- pitching-framing skills, and Chicago is hoping to chal- last season, well behind the
Encarnación agreed last ising young right-hander Keuchel played college lenge in the AL Central 101-win Minnesota Twins
week to a $12 million, one- Michael Kopech is also ex- ball with James McCann at behind a young core of and 93-win Cleveland
year deal. The White Sox pected to return following the University of Arkansas. hitters, including Yoán Indians.q