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Perhaps Atlanta Braves should jump in on Craig Kimbrel

By Alan Carpenter

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after retiring the side in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after retiring the side in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Craig Kimbrel is in Boston, working out in Boston, meeting teammates in Boston.  But for how much longer?

I hesitate to call this a rumor, for there’s still no real indication that the Atlanta Braves are (pick one) interested, investigating, involved, checking in, or even looking up Craig Kimbrel‘s phone number.

Why?  Because here we are now at the end of January and it appears that Kimbrel’s chances of any reunion with the Red Sox are continuing to dwindle toward something rapidly approach zero.

So perhaps the Braves should be getting more serious about him.

What’s going on?

We’ve talked about this possibility before, but let’s re-set the stage…

  • The World Series champs – the Red Sox – have thus far allowed their All-Star closer to walk away, while hardly making any attempt to replace him in their bullpen.
  • Their General Manager has continued to make statements suggesting that they are very reluctant to pay his price.  Here’s an early one:

"“Craig did a great job for us, he’s a Hall of Fame reliever,’’ [GM Dave] Dombrowski says, “but we have not anticipated having a large expenditure for a closer.’’"

  • Meanwhile, the Yankees have been signing every premium free agent reliever they can find… as the BoSox stay more-or-less silent.
  • So then this happened:

Yep – that’s teammate Brock Holt and Kimbrel working out together … in Boston.

Holt is lobbying for a return of The Kimbrel, and Kimbrel himself seems to be hanging around town for … a phone call.

  • For what it’s worth, it was pointed out that the Red Sox instagram account ignored this post, which some took as a bad omen.  Maybe, maybe not, but the fact it:  Kimbrel’s still unsigned.
  • It took all the way to February 20 last year for J.D. Martinez to get signed with the Red Sox… which suggests that Dombrowski has a lot of patience in waiting for the prices to drop.

Opportunity is Knocking

So there are roughly 3 teams remaining with resources, need, and motivation to get Kimbrel in their uniform:  the Red Sox (okay, perhaps ‘motivation’ is lacking there), the Phillies, and the Braves.

While the Braves might shrug at the thought of Boston taking him back, I have to believe that seeing Philadelphia claim him – and there have been persistent rumors that they would be interested – would certainly make life difficult for the Braves in 2019.

Yet with all of that, Alex Anthopoulos recently spoke about Kimbrel specifically during a radio interview on Sirius/XM last week…

"“He makes everybody a lot better,” Anthopoulos said, per MLB Trade Rumors. “He’s one of the best closers of all time. I did come out early in the offseason and, not speaking specifically about him, but [said] our payroll, our model, I don’t know that us spending big, elite dollars on a reliever — length, the term and all that — I don’t know that that model works for us.”"

That didn’t sound terribly optimistic, did it?

Now there is some ‘GM-speak’ in that… Anthopoulos didn’t say “no”, though he kinda did say “not at the price and years that you really want”.

He did say – in effect – that the bullpen would be much improved with Kimbrel around.

At the same time, GM’s are effectively required to be circumspect in any discussions with any specific player.  Gushing over one – like John Coppolella did at times about Chris Archer – doesn’t exactly help you in negotiations.

As things stand, the Braves may have to decide between a starting pitcher or another bullpen arm.  Kimbrel’s is clearly the best available, though it’s also plausible that Atlanta is still waiting out some other issues yet to be resolved this Winter:  other players, other deals… no one really knows.

Of course it still appears that everybody is still waiting for everybody else to make the first move.  Hopefully the Phillies don’t make that first move here.

The Precedents

More from Tomahawk Take

Right now, the top price – by Average Annual Value – of any reliever signed this off-season was the $13 million scored by Zach Britton for 3 years.

Kimbrel wanted $18 million (over 6 years), which would have broken the record for a relief pitcher.  Given that such a number is definitely unavailable, I’m wondering what he might accept now:

  • 4 years at $13 million each?
  • 3 years at $14 million each?
  • 2 years at $15 million plus an option year?
  • 1 year at $17 million as a ‘pillow’ contract?

That cost also includes a lost draft pick… which comes with its own opportunity cost… thanks to the Qualifying Offer that the Red Sox attached.

Of note, Anthopoulos didn’t mention that as a hindrance.

dark. Next. Here's some moves that have been made

But if the Braves can’t land a starter… Kimbrel would be an excellent substitute.  Can we get that going?  Please?

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