Free agent left-hander Dallas Keuchel reached an agreement to sign with the Atlanta Braves, according to multiple reports Thursday night.
The deal is for one year and $13 million, MLB.com reported. Keuchel is slated to take a physical Friday and start Saturday for Triple-A Gwinnett.
Keuchel, the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner, rejected a one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer last fall from the Houston Astros and had been seeking a multiyear deal, but recent reports indicated he has been willing to accept a one-year prorated deal.
During spring training, Keuchel turned down a one-year, $15 million offer from the Astros, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported.
Keuchel, 31, was the biggest free agent on the market after closer Craig Kimbrel reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
Until Monday, teams signing either Kimbrel or Keuchel would have lost a draft pick because they turned down qualifying offers.
Keuchel compiled a 76-63 record in seven seasons with the Astros. He pitched in 192 games (183 starts) and has a lifetime 3.66 ERA with 945 strikeouts in 1,189 1/3 innings.