Boston Red Sox rumors: Why Craig Kimbrel’s future is questionable
By Gio Rivera
The future of Craig Kimbrel in a Boston Red Sox uniform next season becomes more and more questionable.
According to recent reports, the 7-time All-Star is looking for six-year contract as a free agent this off-season. Perhaps it’s time the Boston Red Sox begin looking into alternatives.
This isn’t news.
As always, a perennial name entering the free agent market this off-season is setting the bar high for his next major deal. In this case, Craig Kimbrel is doing just as every other big name free agent does towards the end of the year and heading into free agency.
It’s nothing new by any means. However this doesn’t necessarily mean that the players demanded price will be what he ends up getting.
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Prediction
Let’s preface this by saying this: Craig Kimbrel will most definitely see his pay day within the coming months and well before teams report for Spring Training early next year.
The reality is what it is.
Kimbrel is among the top tier bullpen arms that the sport of pro baseball has to offer today. A 7-time All-Star, 4-time National League saves leader (2011-14), and the only rookie in baseball history to rack up 46 saves his first year.
The resume speaks for itself.
Craig Kimbrel will have his day in Cooperstown come the end of his sensational career.
However, with all being said, the six-year mark is a bit of a stretch for Kimbrel.
The free agent market today of Major League Baseball is exactly the most financial friendly market when it comes to relief pitchers. In the instance of longevity within a contract.
Aroldis Chapman is currently under his pay day, having struck a 5-year agreement for $86,000,000 million with the New York Yankees. That’s an average of $17,200,000 million per season. With Boston, Kimbrel earned an annual salary of $13,000,000 million the final two of three seasons in a Red Sox uniform.
It just doesn’t make sense to invest a long term deal to a closer. We saw this throughout the 2018 post-season for Boston.
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Craig Kimbrel wasn’t the reliable, Keith Foulke 2004-like arm which the Boston Red Sox could ride with out of the bullpen through each series. Kimbrel struggled and he struggled greatly. There were various instances within the Yankees and Astros series’ in which Kimbrel began to crumble. Heroics from glove gems by Andrew Benintendi helped rectify and cover up what could’ve been a disastrous end to an extended series.
Saves that Kimbrel didn’t exactly earn at least deserve.
ALDS (vs Yankees): 2 games, 2 saves, 2.1 innings pitched, 11.57 ERA, 1.714 WHIP
ALCS (vs Astros): 3 games, 3 saves, 4.0 innings pitched, 4.50 ERA, 2.000 WHIP
World Series (vs Dodgers): 4 games, 1 save, 4.1 innings pitched, 4.15 ERA, 1.154 WHIP
Now these stats don’t speak for the future Hall-of-Famer that Craig Kimbrel is. This isn’t an attempt to dilute Kimbrel illustrious legacy in baseball through one postseason run.
That’s not fair.
However, the same reason that teams are knocking on Nathan Eovaldi’s door is the reason why Craig Kimbrel will manage taking a 4-year deal within the same dollar area of Aroldis Chapman a few off-seasons ago. Teams take post-season into consideration.
Bullpen Alternatives
Now for the Red Sox and their 2019 bullpen situation. It’s time to prepare for the possibility that free agency leaves Craig Kimbrel shipping out of Boston within the coming months.
Perhaps Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox front office will also take action in the free agent market and make a move on a relief arm.
Related Story. Craig Kimbrel simply not worth the money. light
Perhaps a reunion with one Andrew Miller?
The 34-year old lefty also hits the market this off-season and could serve as a replacement to fill the possible void in Boston’s closer role.
Last season, Miller only pitched in 37 games for the Indians due to a shoulder injury. Therefore Miller isn’t going to find himself in high demands from baseball organizations. Something the Red Sox can certainly counter on.
Miller spent three seasons (2011-13) in a Red Sox uniform. He’s pitched in 107 games for Boston where he’s thrown for 136.0 innings, striking out 149 batters. In his final season with Boston, Miller racked up an ERA of 2.64 through 30.2 innings pitched.
Another 34-year old closer sitting in the market is right-hander, David Robertson. Someone who’s no stranger to Fenway Park, having spent 8 seasons with the New York Yankees (2008-2014, 2018) in his career.
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He’s pitched in 40 games at Fenway with a career 2.06 ERA through 39.1 innings thrown in Boston. Opponents also hit just .228 with Robertson having allowed 34 hits through 169 plate appearances.
Two division experienced arms who are very familiar with the ballpark.
Let’s see how this plays out.