Closer
Kimbrel is a veteran of three consecutive All Star teams with the Red Sox, having compiled eight consecutive seasons of 30 or more saves. His .995 WHIP for 2018 was a bit off his career .920 average, but he’s only 30 and closer performances typically bounce a bit because their limited innings workload don’t allow the law of averages to take full effect.
Still, the easiest thing in the world for a putative contender to do is persuade itself that it is just one closer away from a championship, and Kimbrel has the credentials. He is a four-time saves leader.
Behind Kimbrel, the roster of options is deep. It includes Andrew Miller, late of Cleveland, Zach Britton, formerly of the Orioles and Yankees, and David Robertson, another former Yankee. Only Britton has been a former full-time closer, but as a group the three allowed just 106 hits in 144.1 innings of work spread across 147 games. Miller and Robertson will be 34 next year but Britton will be only 31.
Those willing to take a chance on something likely to be less costly can pick between Adam Ottavino and Jeurys Familia. In 72 innings or the Mets and Athletics, Familia had a 3.13 ERA with 18 saves. Ottavino has never been a full-time closer, but he got a taste of it in 2018, saving six games for the Rockies. His 2.43 ERA was the best of his career, and he achieved it while working 77.2 innings in the worst pitching environment in baseball.