The best trade is one that benefits both teams. Such is the case with a trade that occurred on Friday between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox.
With Kenley Jansen now with the Braves, the Dodgers needed to find a closer. Meanwhile, the White Sox have been looking for another outfielder. Both teams took care of their needs as the White Sox sent Craig Kimbrel to Los Angeles in exchange for outfielder A.J. Pollock.
Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox fill holes on roster
Although Jansen had held down the ninth inning for a decade, that was no longer the case. The Dodgers had tabbed Blake Treinen as their closer, with Brusdar Graterol as the backup. Now they have a probable answer in Kimbrel.
The question is which Kimbrel they received. The version that was with the Cubs in 2021 was one of the best closers in the game, a shutdown reliever who was completely dominant. On the other hand, the Kimbrel that the White Sox had in 2021 was shaky at best, failing to be that piece they needed to finish the bullpen buzzsaw they were hoping for.
Pollock, meanwhile, fills a need for the White Sox. They had been looking for another outfielder, particularly one that is capable of handling different spots in the outfield. He gives Chicago another powerful bat, further deepening their lineup and making the team all the more dangerous.
It is rare that two teams line up as clearly as the Dodgers and White Sox did on this trade. Both teams had a piece that the other one desperately needed. With this swap, they were able to fix each other’s problems with relative ease.
The Chicago White Sox traded Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for A.J. Pollock. It was a trade borne of mutual necessity.