Atlanta Braves: A New Path to Signing Kimbrel or Keuchel
As two of the top free agent pitchers remain unsigned, we look at a new path for the Atlanta Braves to sign either one this season.
I know, it’s another article that will probably get your hopes up. But until someone signs Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel, I’m going to write about the different ways the Atlanta Braves can sign either of them.
But this one makes a lot of sense, and as we are just a few weeks before the regular season, it’s starting to look a lot more likely.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (subscription required) first mentioned this back on March 11 — and I think its the only way the Atlanta Braves sign Kimbrel or Keuchel this season.
The more likely of the two in this scenario is Kimbrel.
OK, I’ll stop burying the lead for those who don’t know, but Rosenthal reports that Kimbrel could wait until after the June draft to sign with a team as this would not cost the team that signs him a draft pick.
Our own Alan Carpenter wrote a very detailed article a while back on what exactly it would cost the Atlanta Braves to sign a player who has a qualifying offer attached to them.
Because the Braves failed to sign Carter Stewart last year, they now own two picks in the first round (nine and 21), which means they’d have to give up their second-round pick (60).
That may not seem like much to fans who are hungry for the front office to do something (anything), but that is a very valuable pick, especially for the Braves who are limited in the international market right now.
But, if Kimbrel were to wait until after the draft the Braves wouldn’t have to worry about losing that draft pick.
At that point, Kimbrel’s options probably open up a good bit. The Atlanta Braves would have even more competition at that point.
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And I’m mentioning Kimbrel because I think he’s most likely to go this route, but the same is true for Keuchel.
If Kimbrel really wanted to play for the Braves this season, and why wouldn’t he, he could then sign either a one-year deal for a high AAV — maybe $18 million — and then try again as a free agent without a qualifying offer attached next offseason.
Or, the Braves could do him a solid and sign him to a four-year deal worth around $14 million a year.
I would honestly be happy with either one of those deals. Kimbrel’s longevity does not scare me as I think he’ll be a dominant closer for at least another four years.
Eventually, he’ll go down as the second best closer in the history of our game.
Again, I don’t want to get any hopes up, but the longer Kimbrel goes unsigned, the more likely this scenario is to happen. And if it does happen, I think its a definite benefit to the Atlanta Braves.