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Boston Red Sox rumors: Team may benefit from struggling closer market

By Sam Minton

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pumps his fist after the last out of the ninth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 in Game Four of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pumps his fist after the last out of the ninth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 in Game Four of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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It seemed like Craig Kimbrel was destined to leave the Boston Red Sox, but now it seems like the closer has a high likelihood of returning to Boston in the Spring.

When Craig Kimbrel’s contact demands came out, he sounded insane. Who is going to pay $100 million for a closer who is 30 years old? Not the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox are already passed the Luxury Tax threshold and will be having to break out the checkbook. There is no way Kimbrel would be getting that deal in Boston.

Free agency hasn’t treated Kimbrel that great. There doesn’t seem to be a high demand for closers. Most likely Kimbrel will have to take a lesser deal.

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Craig Kimbrel might be one of the best closers to play in Major League Baseball, but $100 million is far too steep a price. The highest paid closers right now are only making around $80 million. Kimbrel doesn’t stand out compared to these guys either.

Aroldis Chapman has a $86 million deal and he had a better record and ERA. Why would you pay Kimbrel more?

It also seems like Kimbrel struggles to maintain his pitching prowess. He was dominant for the first part of the season with a 1.77 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 30 saves.

After that Kimbrel fell off a cliff. In the 2nd half of the season, Kimbrel had a 4.57 ERA, 34 strikeouts and only 12 saves.

Kimbrel didn’t do any better in the postseason. He didn’t have an ERA under 4 in any series and got shelled by the New York Yankees.

Craig Kimbrel clearly isn’t worth $100 million. So what should the Red Sox do?

I believe the best bet for the Red Sox is to sit and wait. With every passing day, Kimbrel’s value drops. If Dave Dombrowski is smart he will get Kimbrel for a bargain compared to his original asking price.

Next. Red Sox rumors: Team in desperate need of late inning reliever. dark

The quest for Craig Kimbrel isn’t over just yet.

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