Last week was the first time the Chicago Cubs were linked to free agent pitcher, Craig Kimbrel. Even with nearly all Cubs fans declaring this deal should have been done in December, the illusion of being cash broke limited their ability to sit at the table with someone like Kimbrel so far.
With some recent developments with Ben Zobrist’s future in flux, his money could become available for the Cubs to use, now.
The Athletic was first to report on the potential interest. Ken Rosenthal, from The Athletic, is now saying the Cubs are pushing hard for Kimbrel.
#Cubs pushing hard for Kimbrel, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 5, 2019
Kimbrel offers a legitimate closer to a team that has some high leverage arms – but no one who had a long (or successful) history of recording the final three outs. The flip side is, how soon can he be on the Wrigley Field mound and is he starting to diminish?
Kimbrel very likely has been on a throwing program, keeping his arm fresh. There’s a giant difference between throwing on the side and throwing to a major league hitter with the tying run on base in the ninth inning. There’s added stress in that situation that cannot be replicated in throwing programs. There was also questions on his arm. There was a drop in velocity in 2018. His breaking ball didn’t have the right shape to it. Things were different.
Finally, what are his salary demands? Just a week and a half ago he was still looking for a multi-year deal in the $45-60 million range. Is this still the case? Will committing multiple years to a pitcher that might be on the downward spiral hurt long term? With the likes of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Willson Contreras having extensions around the corner, does a multi-year deal to Kimbrel create more obstacles in the next two to four years?
