Los Angeles Angels should sign Dallas Keuchel to hefty two-year deal

March is already halfway over and the 2015 American League Cy Young, Dallas Keuchel, is still without a team — which is why the Los Angeles Angels should strike.

The Los Angeles Angels have made a few signings this offseason that added depth to the team but did not make them significantly better. All the signings were for just one year and were banking on the hope that the players signed could turn it around in Los Angeles.

The guys that the Angels brought in are Justin Bour, Jonathan Lucroy, Cody Allen, Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill to one-year contracts. Each guy has been fairly good at some point in their career but they all are chances that the front office is taking.

One of the big name free agents that the team was initially connected to was Patrick Corbin before he agreed to a deal with the Washington Nationals. And this was justified, the Los Angeles Angels do not have a fantastic pitching staff and don’t really have a true ace.

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Luckily there is somehow still and option available in free agent in Dallas Keuchel, who continues to holdout alongside agent Scott Boras, waiting for the right deal to come.

That right deal should come from the Angels although it might not be what Kecuhel or Boras had expected.

Keuchel is a former Cy Young and because of that, he was likely asking for more money that he is worth. The problem with Keuchel, which has lowered his value, is that he has not been great since. He has been good, not Cy Young worthy.

However, the Angels are desperate to field a contender that can hopefully convince Mike Trout to stay long-term. Trout still does not have a single playoff win under his belt despite being the best player in baseball by a mile.

It is clear that the front office does not want to get burned by yet another long-term contract based on the signings that the team has made. That is probably what priced the team out of Corbin.

Since Keuchel is still available we know that the offers are not as good as he had wanted. Whether this is because of money or years is unclear, but it is probably a mixture of both.

However, since he is a free agent the Angels are in a perfect position to strike. The team can offer him more money than any other team is willing to offer him while only offering a two-year deal with a club option third.

This prevents Keuchel from hurting the team long-term and gives the southpaw the money he wants, at least for the next two years.

I would go as far as a two-year deal worth $40-45 million. That is overspending for Keuchel but the team needs the pitching depth. If the best offer available if for four years $55 million then Keuchel should be much more inclined to take the Angels’ offer.

Both teams get what they want with a slight sacrifice. The Los Angeles Angels have to sacrifice by paying Keuchel more but Keuchel has to sacrifice a long-term deal. However, he could still end up making more money this way.