Debate: Should Keuchel stand firm? Was Sanchez right to call out team?

Dallas Keuchel remains a free agent well into May, something the left-hander said he wasn't expecting. The veteran is holding steadfast and won't lower his contract demands even if his agent Scott Boras suggests he should.

theScore's MLB editors Michael Bradburn and Jason Wilson debate whether holding out for his desired contract is the right move for Keuchel, and also dive into other hot-button topics.

Is Keuchel's holdout wise?

Yes, conditionally. Maybe this is a hedge, but Keuchel's confidence in his own worth is pretty inspiring, especially if you take his words at face value. The lefty said he's refusing to lower his asking price on principle, which is admirable, though not entirely believable. Even if Keuchel isn't acting purely out of altruism to ensure future free agents get paid appropriately, the break may be doing his shoulder and arm a favor. The 31-year-old has thrown 145-plus innings in five straight seasons, hitting 200 three times. If the time away allows for healing that helps prolong his career, that could pay dividends both for him and his eventual team. - Wilson

No. Every day of his holdout leads to more potential earnings losses for an aging pitcher - a position that doesn't age particularly well. Of course, we don't know the offers Keuchel is receiving, but if Boras is suggesting his client should consider them, the two-time All-Star should listen. There's a chance the offers become slightly more lucrative than they are now if Keuchel holds out until after the MLB Draft on June 3, when he'll no longer be tied to draft-pick compensation. However, that's no guarantee, and it would mean foregoing an entire month's salary. A bird in the hand, as they say. - Bradburn

Was Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez right to publicly call out his teammates following a rough game in Anaheim?

Yes. Look, I'm not in favor of taking all your grievances directly to the media. But sometimes privately telling your teammates they need to be better doesn't sink in, and Sanchez wasn't wrong. Sure, the wording didn't seem great, with Sanchez calling the team's effort "f------ brutal." But he's right, as the "guys just weren't ready to play." His comments could also be read as being critical of the front office for choosing the personnel on the field. And the team admitted to a mistake two days later when the Blue Jays designated Alen Hanson - who committed the lone error behind Sanchez - for assignment while adding bullpen depth. - Bradburn

No. Maybe this would have been acceptable had Sanchez been acclimating himself well on the mound this season with even a modicum of consistency. On Tuesday night, he issued three walks in seven innings, somehow dropping his BB/9 to 5.36. He's understandably frustrated, and the Blue Jays have looked pretty amateurish in the field. But Sanchez needs to look at the box score and recognize he's among those not pulling their weight. His defenders aren't walking more than five batters per nine. His comments make for a bad look, and he should have discussed his concerns privately. - Wilson

Which budding rivalry is better for baseball: Tim Anderson vs. Trevor Bauer, or Chris Paddack vs. Pete Alonso?

Anderson vs. Bauer. Bauer is baseball's preeminent villain these days, for better or worse. His exchange with Anderson this week before the White Sox squared off against the Indians helped show the more playful side of Cleveland's resident troll.

It also played into Anderson's growing celebrity. A virtual unknown outside Chicago and deep fantasy baseball leagues, Anderson has become a household name because of his exuberant bat flips following home runs. That's rubbed some people and teams (Brad Keller, the Royals, probably Randal Grichuk) the wrong way, but Bauer is clearly along for the ride. He gets why Anderson's antics are good and entertaining. Like him or not, Bauer knows how to poke his opponents to hilarious ends - for further evidence, look at his back-and-forth with Astros star Alex Bregman. - Wilson

Alonso vs. Paddack. Let's go with the rookies. While Anderson and Bauer are household names right now, a rivalry brewing between two up-and-coming rookies on a pair of ascending clubs is great for the health of the league. Not only are these guys early front-runners for NL Rookie of the Year honors, Alonso and Paddack are also playing like they should prepare their trophy cases for lots of future hardware. Alonso was an unwitting participant in the rivalry after being named the Senior Circuit's Rookie of the Month in April. While Paddack said Alonso deserved the honor, the San Diego Padres right-hander issued a challenge, saying "we'll see Monday who the top dog is." Paddack wound up dismantling Alonso in their first meeting, striking the first baseman out twice and inducing one groundball. That won't be the last we hear from these young franchise cornerstones. - Bradburn