TORONTO — Max Scherzer. Justin Verlander. Gerrit Cole. Patrick Corbin. And now Dallas Keuchel.
That quintet shares a bond beyond the obvious of being highly accomplished starting pitchers. All five have switched teams in the past five years, and none has gone to the Yankees due to Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman standing their ground on the accompanying acquisition costs.
Keuchel, a rare in-season free agent, became the latest member of this group when he passed on the Yankees’ one-year offer for the prorated qualifying offer of $17.9 million (about $11.6 million) to sign instead with the Braves for one year and a prorated $21.