Astros, Dallas Keuchel reach agreement on $7.25 million deal

Oh, the joys of player control. In offseason that David Price and Zack Greinke signed contracts that will net them each $30 million-plus just during the 2016 season, Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros have reached an agreement on $7.25 million deal -- as first reported by the Houston Chronicle's Evan Drellich.

Source: Dallas Keuchel has a one year deal for $7.25 million. Also looks good for Astros. First big payday for Cy Young winner

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 15, 2016

Dallas Keuchel is in this fourth major league season with the Astros following Houston selecting the left-hander out of the University of Arkansas in the 7th round of the 2009 amateur draft.

Keuchel stock has skyrocketed following a historic 2015 season. The left-hander posted a 20-8 record with a 2.48 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 232 innings in 2015.

Keuchel finished first in the American League in wins (20), innings pitched (232), batters faced (911), ERA+ (162), WHIP (1.02 WHIP) and groundball rate (61.7 percent). He was in the top five in ERA (2.48, second), FIP (2.91), strikeout to walk ratio (4.24), and strikeouts (216).

Keuchel was historic at home this season, going 15-0 at Minute Maid Park with a 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 18 starts. He is the first pitcher in MLB history to have a perfect 15-0 record at home in the modern era.

Keuchel was named the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner, taking 22 of the possible 30 first place votes. He also named the American League Gold Glove award winner at the pitcher position for the second straight year.

The $7.25 million agreement is a bit higher than the projected mlbtraderumors.com number of $6.4 million. It may be a show of good faith on the side of the Astros who will be looking to sign Keuchel to a long term deal before he hits free agency following the 2018 season.