Astros: Dallas Keuchel wins his fourth Rawlings Gold Glove award

The 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove winners were announced on Sunday evening.

Here’s the short and sweet of the Gold Glove news for Astros fans: Dallas Keuchel has won his fourth Gold Glove. Based on all indications though, the free agent starter isn’t likely to return to Houston as a member of the Astros next year. But if the Gold Glove was his final achievement as an Astro, then it is not a bad way to go out.

As noted by Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, Keuchel joins Craig Biggio, Cesar Cedeno, and Doug Rader as Astros with four or more Gold Gloves in club history.

Then there is some major league history.

As the bearded southpaw enters free agency for the first time in his professional career, an additional Gold Glove to the trophy case can’t hurt his case. Keuchel expressed his thoughts on winning the award on social media Sunday night.

Surpassing the 200-inning total for the first time since his Cy Young award season in 2015, Keuchel is entering the free agent market as one of the best options at starting pitcher. While Gold Gloves are cool and all, prospective suitors are more interested in his first fully healthy season in three years. The left-hander was quite proud of the fact that he lasted the whole season with no time lost on the DL, unlike his 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Catcher Martin Maldonado and third baseman Alex Bregman were also in the running for a Gold Glove award this year, but catcher Salvador Perez and third baseman Matt Chapman came out ahead in the award final tally.

As you may recall, Maldonado was the AL Gold Glove winner last year when he was with the Angels. While it would’ve been nice to see Bregman to win a Gold Glove, his 2018 season was already worth remembering. You can find the gory statistical detail here of each Astros’ case for the Gold Glove award.