MLB Rumors: Mutliple Teams Linked to Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel Before Draft

The draft-pick compensation attached to free-agent pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel will expire soon, so it's not a surprise both players are seeing increased interest from teams.

Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, teams can sign Keuchel and Kimbrel beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET Monday without giving up a draft pick. 

Heyman mentioned the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves as "strongly in on" Keuchel. The Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays are among other potential suitors for the 2015 American League Cy Young winner. 

As for Kimbrel, Heyman lists the Braves, Twins, Rays, Philadelphia Phillies and "many more" interested in his services. 

Once it became clear Keuchel and Kimbrel weren't going to find the deals they were hoping for this offseason, June 3 was earmarked as the most likely date for their markets to start picking up. 

ESPN's Buster Olney reported Tuesday that Keuchel's camp is "open" to a one-year deal with a prorated salary in the range of the qualifying offer ($17.9 million) he originally received from the Houston Astros in November.

Agent Scott Boras told MLB Network's Jon Morosi his client has regularly been throwing simulated games every five days and could be ready to join an MLB rotation within one week of signing. 

It's unclear what Kimbrel's contract demands are at this point. The most recent update in April from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal was the seven-time All-Star was seeking a deal in the range of what Wade Davis received from the Colorado Rockies in December 2017 (three years, $52 million) and Zack Britton got from the New York Yankees last offseason (three years, $39 million). 

Since both players received qualifying offers from their former clubs, any team signing them before Monday would have had to forfeit their first-round draft pick. 

Keuchel finished last season with a 3.74 ERA in 204.2 innings for the Astros. Kimbrel helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2018 World Series with a 2.74 ERA, 42 saves and 96 strikeouts in 62.1 innings during the regular season.