MLB free agency: Destinations for Craig Kimbrel
Even though the regular season is rapidly approaching, Craig Kimbrel is still languishing in MLB free agency. Where could he end up?
For the second consecutive offseason, MLB free agency has moved at a glacial pace. Some of the best players available did not receive contracts until later in offseason, with Manny Machado and Bryce Harper not signing until the beginning of March. While a few players have signed, some of the top names available at the start of the offseason have continued to languish without a contract.
One of those players is Craig Kimbrel. Easily the best reliever on the market, he is in the midst of what should be a Hall of Fame career. However, his reported demands to have the top contract of any closer in the history of the game, and his struggles in the 2018 postseason, Kimbrel has yet to receive a deal.
With the regular season beginning in just a couple of weeks, teams are starting to realize those weaknesses they may have. For teams with postseason aspirations and a questionable bullpen, Kimbrel may be the piece they need to reach the playoffs. Of course, that means that his asking price needs to be met.
Which teams would be the best fits for Craig Kimbrel? Let us take a look around the league and find out.
Atlanta Braves
After beginning his career with the Atlanta Braves, it may be time for Craig Kimbrel to return home.
The Braves opened MLB free agency with a bang, bringing in Josh Donaldson on a one year deal to provide needed offense to the lineup. However, they have been relatively silent since, spending a combined $8 million for the returns of Brian McCann and Nick Markakis. After a surprising victory in the NL West last season, that was not the offseason the fan base had hoped for.
Kimbrel would change that. He already has a claim to being one of the best closers in team history, posting a 1.43 ERA and a 0.903 WHiP in his 289 innings, striking out 476 batters. Kimbrel was an All Star in each of his full seasons with the Braves, leading the league in saves each year. No other closer was as dominant in that timeframe.
Even if Kimbrel is slowing a bit, he would still be a worthwhile option. The tandem of Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter were solid as co-closers, but would be better served in setup roles. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has said that the Braves would be willing to make additional moves, and have the capacity for such. Based on those words, it sounds like Kimbrel could be an option.
If the Atlanta Braves are going to keep pace in a loaded NL East, they may need to upgrade the bullpen. Adding Craig Kimbrel would do just that.
Washington Nationals
Much like their divisional rivals the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals could stand to make a move to upgrade their bullpen.
However, their situation is different than what the Braves are dealing with. Sean Doolittle has been a solid closer for the Nationals, but the rest of the bullpen is a question mark. Trevor Rosenthal was an excellent closer, but is coming back from Tommy John surgery. Koda Glover cannot stay healthy. Kyle Barraclough cannot be counted on to throw strikes.
Adding Kimbrel to the bullpen would certainly alleviate a number of those question marks. Doolittle himself said that he would welcome Kimbrel with open arms, and that he would be the first person to greet him if Kimbrel was to walk through the door. And the Nationals have been linked to Kimbrel recently.
My col: Sean Doolittle, after hearing Nats might be interested in free agent Craig Kimbrel, went to Nats manager Martinez and said, "I have an empty locker next to me, right between me and Trevor Rosenthal...I'd be the 1st guy at the door to welcome him.” Doo The Right Thing!
— Thomas Boswell (@ThomasBoswellWP) March 12, 2019
There are problems with such a match. The Nationals are trying to remain under the luxury tax, which would seemingly preclude them from being able to sign Kimbrel. They have also signed Tony Sipp to a one year deal, theoretically addressing their need to upgrade the bullpen. However, Sipp is a far cry from the pitcher that Kimbrel is.
Craig Kimbrel would still make sense for the Washington Nationals. The franchise just does not seem to be willing to make that move work.
Boston Red Sox
Although Craig Kimbrel struggled in the postseason for the Boston Red Sox, he was a strong part of their bullpen for the previous three seasons.
Acquired in a trade after one season with the Padres, Kimbrel solidified a Boston bullpen that was in need of a light’s out closer. Although he had his issues with command at times, Kimbrel was exactly what the Red Sox had hoped for. In his three seasons with the franchise, he posted a respectable 2.44 ERA and a 0.903 WHiP, notching 108 saves while striking out 305 batters in 184.1 innings.
Right now, the Red Sox are set to go into their title defense without their top two relievers from last season. Kimbrel is still available in MLB free agency, but Joe Kelly has signed with the Dodgers. Likewise, at this point, Boston is looking at Matt Barnes and/or Ryan Brasier as their options at closer.
Kimbrel, even if he is not the pitcher he was in his days in Atlanta, would be an upgrade. His presence would help make a questionable Red Sox bullpen that much better, and could be the difference in winning the division or ending up in the Wild Card game. However, given their situation with the luxury tax, the Red Sox are not claiming that they have no interest in adding to their bullpen beyond their litany of minor league deals.
The Boston Red Sox could absolutely use Craig Kimbrel. However, they just do not seem willing to spend the money needed to bring him back.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are not known for spending money. However, that was not the case this offseason.
In a relatively surprising move, the Rays splurged on a two year deal for Charlie Morton, bringing in a third actual starting pitcher. Avisail Garcia added depth to the outfield. However, the Rays could not stop their relatively cheaper ways, as they simply renewed Blake Snell and gave him a meager $15,000 raise, even after he won the Cy Young.
That decision could be justified if the Rays were willing to spend that money elsewhere. Adding a proven closer could be that type of move, especially for a bullpen that is made up almost entirely of pre-arbitration arms. Chaz Roe, the one Rays pitcher that had reached arbitration, is listed as their closer. Kimbrel would be quite the upgrade over those options.
Signing Kimbrel could also make a dramatic difference in the complexion of the AL East. As it stands, the Rays are one of the favorites to contend for a Wild Card berth, especially on the heels of their surprising 90 win season in 2018. By adding a proven closer such as Kimbrel, on top of the addition of Morton, the Rays may be able to contend for the division.
Craig Kimbrel is not the typical player that the Tampa Bay Rays would look at. Yet, they have remained in contact, and could easily afford his services if they were to open the vault once more.
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are not a team that is often connected to Craig Kimbrel, but they would also make sense as a destination.
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Typically, the Angels have slapped Band-Aids on their roster, hoping to find a way to make the postseason. And since 2014, despite the presence of Mike Trout, the Angels have been unable to be a viable contender, as those moves have not made enough of a difference.
The Angels did address their bullpen in MLB free agency, adding Cody Allen on a one year deal. However, he is a relatively shaky option at closer, especially with some of the injury concerns in the bullpen. Keynan Middleton and Cam Bedrosian have been thought of as closers of the future, but have yet to seize that role for themselves.
Adding Kimbrel would give the Angels their best closer in the Mike Trout Era since Huston Street was actually healthy in 2015. However, unlike Street, Kimbrel does not have that history of health woes, and would provide the Angels with a player they can build around. As Los Angeles is looking to find a way to keep Trout in town for the long term, adding a top closer could be a step towards proving that they are serious about contending going forward.
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Where do you think Craig Kimbrel will end up? Let us know in the comments below!