Dallas Keuchel could be ready to pitch in the Major Leagues a week after signing a contract, agent Scott Boras says.

Keuchel has already thrown seven simulated games of roughly 100 pitches.

As many as six teams are in the mix to sign the veteran stater.

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to terms on a Minor League contract with Carlos Gonzalez.

Gonzalez will report to Triple-A and soon get called up to the Major League club.

The Cleveland Indians recently released Gonzalez after he hit .210/.282/.276 in 30 games.

With the Major League Baseball Draft looming, as many as six teams could be in the mix to sign Dallas Keuchel.

Once the draft passes, teams will no longer have to surrender a draft pick as compensation for signing the pitcher.

Jon Heyman noted that the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers have been linked to Keuchel.

Dallas Keuchel is now open to a one-year deal after seeking a multi-year deal throughout free agency and the first quarter of the season.

Keuchel would consider a prorated deal that would pay him close to $18 million.

If signed after the MLB draft next week, teams won't have to give up a pick to sign the pitcher.

The Atlanta Braves are doing their due diligence on both Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel with the MLB Draft approaching on June 3.

At that point, teams will no longer need to surrender a draft pick to sign him, per the rules for players who reject a qualifying offer.

"I would think both guys can certainly help our club," Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said of Kimbrel and Keuchel. "I think it's fair to say, any free agents that are out there, certainly with the draft pick being gone for some of these guys soon, I would think would only help their market. And like anybody else I'm sure that we will do our work on it."

The Tampa Bay Rays are among the clubs "keeping in touch" with Craig Kimbrel, according to a report.

Tampa Bay already has one of the league's top bullpens with a 3.21 ERA, third in the Major Leagues.

Over his last three seasons, Kimbrel averaged a 2.44 ERA and 36 saves with the Boston Red Sox.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are more than 10 games above .500, but the bullpen has been an issue so far this season.

Kenley Jansen, L.A.'s closer, has a 4.67 ERA.

He said he'd welcome Craig Kimbrel if the Dodgers decided to sign the veteran reliever.

"Why not?" Jansen said. "We want to win a championship, right?"

He also made it clear that while he'd have no problem sharing the bullpen with Kimbrel, he wouldn't give up save opportunities.

"That's what I get paid for," Jansen said. "I get paid for closing ballgames. Why should I have to do anything different? That's my question. It doesn't make any sense."

Dallas Keuchel remains unsigned and says he is not going to settle until he gets what he believes to be a fair market value.

"If you would've asked me on the first day of free agency, I would have said no way I'd be here on May 6," Keuchel said. "Am I the best at this point in time? No. But am I more than or better than some of the offers I've been given? Absolutely. That's not me being greedy. That's just my compensation in the market from what the analytical data is telling me. I didn't come up with this. The front offices came up with this. So now they're trying to tell me I'm less than what the analytical data is saying. How is that possible?"

The 31-year-old had a 3.74 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 204 2/3 innings last season. Keuchel says he's turned down a number of offers brought to him by agent Scott Boras.

"It's not just the front offices who have all these numbers," Keuchel said. "Players and agencies now have the access and the knowledge to do the same thing. My asking price and my due diligence is not just out of left field. It has come to me through my own career path, my own career numbers, and then what my market is valued at this point in time. To this point it hasn't been matched. It's been less than what it should be. And this is out of principle, what's going on right now. I can't speak for other players. It's a principle for me. I'm not asking for the world."

Officials from the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers have watched James Shields throw in recent weeks.

Shields, 37, remains intent on continuing his Major League career.

As of Monday evening, Shields was not close to signing with a club, but his market is expected to take shape over the next few weeks.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Travis d'Arnaud to a one-year contract.

The New York Mets designated d'Arnaud for assignment on April 28 and released him on Friday.

d'Arnaud missed most of last season because of an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.