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Brewers Rumors and SpeculationConversation StartersWPA Game RecapsTransactionsLatest NewsMLB Trade RumorsBrewers Rumors and SpeculationReport lists Milwaukee Brewers among three finalists for free agent Dallas KeuchelNew http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey ,163commentsAnother high-priced free agent?!CSTShareTweetShareShareReport lists Milwaukee Brewers among three finalists for free agent Dallas KeuchelTommy Gilligan-USA TODAY SportsIt would be easy for one to assume that the Milwaukee Brewers are done making major moves for the 2018-19 offseason. After the blockbuster signing of Yasmani Grandal, the Opening Day payroll projection sits at more than $112 mil, which stands to set a new franchise record as it is. Grandal’s addition fills the need for a significant offensive upgrade to the lineup, and with the club seemingly content to field a platoon a second base, as well as plenty of depth in both the rotation and bullpen, it’s not difficult to start visualizing what the roster will look like on March 28th when Milwaukee opens the season against St. Louis.Slingin’ David Stearns may have another trick up his sleeve yet, however, if there is any truth to this recent report:According to Paul Crane, a veteran broadcaster, reporter, and play-by-play announcer with a pulse on the Braves beat in Atlanta Dave Dravecky Jersey , the Brewers are apparently one of three finalists for the services of free agent starter Dallas Keuchel. Milwaukee is reportedly competing with the Braves and Astros, but may be willing to go to three guaranteed seasons while the Astros are offering only two and an option year. What the Braves may be offering is unknown.Keuchel was predicted to land a four-year, $82 mil deal by MLB Trade Rumors as the second-best free agent pitcher at the outset of the offseason, though it doesn’t seem like he’ll approach either of those figures based on Crane’s report. There are reasons to be skeptical of Keuchel as a free agent, starting with the recently-turned 31 year old’s age. He dealt with shoulder and neck issues during the 2016-17 seasons, though he did come back to pitch 204.2 innings last year. The 8.3% swinging-strike rate and 17.5% strikeout rate he posted in 2018 were his lowest since his rookie season of 2012. And, in terms of bottom-line run prevention, he’s been closer to average (4.55 ERA, 113 ERA- in 2016, 3.74 ERA, 91 ERA- in 2018) than ace (2.90 ERA http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , 69 ERA- in 2017) in two of the last three seasons.However, in an age where strikeouts are ever-increasing and an era when even the rich teams refuse to spend in free agency, Keuchel may be an under-valued commodity. He does possess two elite skills - controlling quality of contact and keeping the ball on the ground. Going back seven seasons to the start of 2012, Keuchel’s first in the big leagues, the left-hander ranks third-best among the 218 qualified starting pitchers by yielding a mere 25.3% hard contact rate and sixth-best by inducing soft contact 21.6% of the time. He’s also generated the fourth-highest ground ball rate among pitchers in that sample at 58.9%. Those strengths ought to fit particularly well within the Brewers run prevention system, which encourages hurlers who lack elite velocity to pitch to contact and allow Milwaukee’s precise shifting of defenders to turn balls in play into outs.The Brewers are perhaps more willing than any other organization to overlook low-endfastball velo and don’t figure to be scared off by Keuchel’s 89 MPH heater nor his 6.7 K/9. Despite underwhelming “stuff,” the southpaw has put together DRA- marks of 86 or below in each of the last five seasons, including a 57 DRA- during his Cy Young season in 2015. The high price tag that typically accompanies a free agent of his ilk would be something that normally scares off a small-market team like Milwaukee, but if Stearns sees a possibility to mine surplus value from a player who he ought to be quite familiar with from their days together in Houston, then perhaps he can convince owner Mark Attanasio to further augment the payroll in the quest for a World Series.Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs and Baseball Prospectus CINCINNATI (AP) — Francisco Mejia felt nervous in the early innings of his first game behind the plate for the Padres. All he needed was one swing to settle in.Mejia hit a solo homer and a three-run shot during his first start as the team’s up-and-coming catcher on Thursday night, leading San Diego to a 6-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Mejia connected on his first two swings against Luis Castillo (8-12) for his first homers in the majors . The 22-year-old prized prospect was called up Tuesday as the Padres get him ready for a bigger role next season.He made quite a debut.“Two really good swings Brandon Belt Jersey , loud contact both ways,” manager Andy Green said. “They tried to sneak a couple fastballs by him, and he’s proven really quickly he can hit a fastball. He did a nice job behind the plate, too. He’s literally getting a crash course on every reliever when they come into the game.”The Padres got Mejia from Cleveland in a July trade for relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber as the AL Central leaders tried to overhaul their struggling bullpen. Mejia hit seven homers at Triple-A after the deal, and the Padres called him up to start getting him ready for bigger things.He’s expected to catch roughly half the games the rest of the way, getting to know an unfamiliar pitching staff. In his first game, he didn’t let the challenge of handling six new pitchers affect his offense.“I think I’ve done a good job preparing myself,” Mejia said through a translator. “I’ve learned how to divide and separate those two things.”Mejia hit fastballs of 96 and 97 mph on consecutive swings off Castillo, who already knew the catcher could hit.“I faced him in spring training,” Castillo said. “We live near each other in the Dominican and we practice together.”Hunter Renfroe also hit a solo homer off Castillo , who gave up three for the first time in his career.Left-hander Eric Lauer made his second start since returning from a stint on the disabled list with a sore forearm that cost him 25 days. He threw five hitless innings during a 3-2 http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , 13-inning win over Colorado on Aug. 30 in his return.Lauer allowed two hits in four innings Thursday, matching his career high with eight strikeouts. He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out threat in the fourth with a pair of strikeouts and Renfroe’s lunging grab.“Renfroe’s catch in left field was the play of the game,” Green said. “That changed the complexion of everything.”Jose Castillo (2-2) retired the three batters he faced. Scott Schebler and Mason Williams homered off Trey Wingenter in the seventh.REMEMBERING VICTIMSThe Reds held a moment of silence pregame for victims of a downtown shooting on Thursday morning. A gunman killed three people and wounded two others before he was fatally shot by police officers.20-SOMETHINGSLauer made his 20th start, joining Joey Lucchesi at the mark. The last time the Padres had two rookies make 20 starts in a season was 1977. It’s the fourth time overall.NOT-SO-SPLENDID SPLINTERSFranmil Reyes was so angry at himself for striking out on a low pitch in the fourth inning that he slammed his bat on the ground and broke it over his right thigh while heading back to the dugout.MORE MEJIA NUMBERSMejia is the first Padres player to homer in the first two at-bats of his first start. He’s the 13th catcher in Padres history to hit two or more homers in a game. The last was Austin Hedges last season at Philadelphia.TRAINER’S ROOMReds: Scooter Gennett was out of the lineup with a tender thigh. He leads the NL in hitting at .320. … LH reliever Amir Garret threw in the bullpen and could be activated next week. He’s been on the DL since Aug. 29 with a bruised left foot.UP NEXTPadres: Brett Kennedy (1-2) makes his sixth career start and his first against the Reds. He threw six shutout innings on Aug. 31 for a 7-0 victory over Colorado, his first career win.Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (7-4) makes his 17th start and third career appearance against the Padres, his first since 2016. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings last Sunday in St. Louis, giving up two runs and five hits while throwing 72 pitches.