4:38 PM: Per Kimbrel’s agent David Meter, via The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the report that Kimbrel would consider sitting out the 2019 season is false: “The report is wholly inaccurate and Craig looks forward to signing a new contract in the near future. Any report pertaining to his not playing this season is utterly false.”
2:27 PM: Jim Bowden of The Athletic cites “multiple GMs” in a report stating that reliever Craig Kimbrel’s asking price has not dropped from its lofty mid-offseason perch. In the same tweet, Bowden notes that “sources close” to the 30-year-old believe he would “consider” sitting out the 2019 season if the offers continue to fall well short of his ask.
The seven-time all-star, who’s fanned at least 13.5 men per nine in each of his nine MLB seasons, entered the offseason primed to set a new record for both length and total value of a relief-pitching contract. His initial ask, as reported by The Athletic’s Jayson Stark and ESPN’s Buster Olney, was a 6-year deal for at least $100MM, a figure that, in this market, had little chance to be met. By Christmas, the price was hovering near Aroldis Chapman’s record-setting 5-year, $86MM deal, though it doesn’t appear to have fallen further in the weeks to come.
Though the demands seem reasonable, especially for Kimbrel’s former club, the deep-pocketed, reliever-starved Red Sox, a competitive market has thus far not emerged around the flame-thrower. Some of the tepid interest can surely be owed to the righty’s age (31 in May) and his declining peripherals (a career-worst 28.2% ground-ball rate, 1.01 HR/9, and 3.13 FIP/xFIP), but Kimbrel has bucked the volatile-reliever archetype as well as any in the history of the game, and his average fastball velocity, long a marker for imminent decline, still sits at a sizzling 97.5 MPH.
The rest, it seems, is centered in the avant-garde approach to player evaluation, where short-term, high-average-annual-value deals are all the rage, and even the richest clubs snub their noses at name-brands and track records. Certain suitors, like the free-spending Phils, are holding firmly to their internal valuations – as they did, recently, with Manny Machado – while others, like the division-rival Braves, are playing poor. Boston, of course, would be on the hook for nearly $30MM in 2019 if it were to sign him to a deal approaching his reputed ask, and can be reasonably excused for its reluctance.
The rest of the league, though – especially would-be contenders with back-end needs, like the Indians, Twins, Angels, and Cubs – seems to have little defense.
I want to start a campaign to get people to stop using “ask” as a noun.
Has something happened to Brad Hand? I don’t understand the Indians being on this list. The others, absolutely.
You go Kimbrell!!!
2nd that!
Kimbrel is delusional…..
Jim Bowden is an idiot. He’s horrible on mlb Xm radio, so it’s no surprise that he’s has false reports here.
Sitting out? Wouldn’t that do more harm than just taking a 1 year contract lol
What happens if he has a shoulder problem, as an example, in that one year contract? That’s a huge gamble for a player who was clearly looking for a 5-6 year term.
If he’s worried about an injury then he should take a three year deal.
Being away from the game for a year can be just as bad as getting injured. And if he does have injury problems, at least he has the money from that freaking contract. What if a car hits him and he can’t walk again and he is sitting out that year? Your hypothetical situation means nothing to me. Take money when you can get money. Especially when it is good. I’m not arguing that he should take a 1 year deal, I’m merely saying it’s better than sitting out and I can promise you there are enough multi year contracts worth a lot of money he can sure as heck get.
Yes.
Tell that to LeVeon Bell
Not even close to the same thing. Most MLB contracts are garunteed, NFL contracts are often not. Plus you can’t really compare a pitcher and a RB.
You apparently missed the point. In both cases, an elite athlete is taking a year off from a sport and then trying to come back at the same level. It makes no difference if the contracts are guaranteed or not. Where did you get that from?
It makes a world of difference. Different sport, different position, entirely different career trajectory, different perishable/non-perishable skills, etc. Taking time from one does not equal time from another, just a really bad and ignorant comparison.
Except for the fact that the market doesn’t exist for his lofty demands. He’s not Machado/Harper.
yeah and sitting out just means that next year he will be a 31 year old so the price will go down further because any signing will be shorter if his more productive years by 1.
Exactly
There’s no logical argument for sitting out of baseball. He isn’t leveon bell and forced to play on a one year deal. He’s a reliever with multi year offers. If he doesn’t like the dollars he can take a ST offer for more and try again. No way Kimbrel sits the year out. If he does, he’s truly an idiot.
So far, Craig Kimbrel has made $55 million in MLB salary. If he takes a one-year deal and gets hurt, he is still; set for life.
Kimbrel has a real chance of taking the all time saves record. Sitting out at age 31 would be a terrible idea.
He should “bet on himself” and pursue the record.
Agreed. Let him sit out. Sort of like a little kid saying I’ll take my toys and go home.
He or more importantly the union may not like the money or years he gets, but what does that prove by not playing? Only hurts himself.
Please no team pay that price,let him sit out if needed
“No team”? Why, so Kimbrel can be humbled, somehow making your life better?
Rather than sitting out, he should take a one-year pillow deal. I wouldn’t mind if the Braves offered 1/$19M.
I kinda get the feeling the Braves would do that type of deal.
A lot of teams would do that deal, but Kimbrel doesn’t seem to want to
Somebody that’s not the Red Sox please sign this guy
“Sources close to Kimbrel believe he will consider sitting out 2019 of the offers continue to fall well short of his ask” Is Craig stupid? That’s going to lessen his value.
He is doing a Sprewell. next up he will call $50 million chump change. Good old Sprewell sitting out and filling for bankruptcy a few years later.
Yes.
Those two things are not mutually exclusive.
It is a lie.
Unless he wants to stay home with his daughter, who was sick last year, and the contract is a secondary issue.
Red Sox fan here…. Kimbrel needs to recalibrate his asking price.
Maybe 3 years, 50 Million.
Kimbrel (according to baseball reference) has made $55,164,000 in his career.
Why wouldn’t he take a 1 + 1 deal with a player option and a high AAV?
He might even be able to get $18-$20 MM for one year plus a $15-$20 MM player option.
I’m sort of sure Atlanta would give him that right now (1+1) w/ higher AAV.
Why do people think that guys who finally get to free agency want to take one year contracts?
3 year 48 mil – with a 4th and 5th year team option for 15 mil each year
Going on strike
Kimbrel threatening sitting 2019 cuz contract demand?
Craig Kimbrel is the baseball version of Le’Veon Bell.
Except that he’ll be 31. Le’veon is 27.
Running backs age in dog years though so being 27 is older than it sounds
He’s coming back at 27. Kimbrel would be coming back at 32.
Closers can pitch into their 40s if they want. Running backs are done by 30 most of the time.
typically not as closers
It’s in poor judgement for either one of them to take a year off, regardless of how old they are
Sorry no comparison with Relievers in Baseball to Running Backs in Football in any which way A-Z ,try again
Actually, it is a pretty apt comparison. Both Running Backs and relievers are seen a replaceable by FO’s. Relievers are baseball Running backs.
No comparison at all. Injury rates aren’t close, contracts are structured totally different (NFL players do t typically get garunteed $ the way baseball players do, and it’s far more rare to see catastrophic injuries in baseball like you do in football.
I do not want to hear anyone blame teams for being cheap. No GM in his right mind would spend that much on a closer. Note to his agent don’t promise something that nobody would give your client.
I’m not picking a side here, but think about a team who has a shot at a wild card, and their flawed closer blows 4 saves. What is a fan going to say about the GM then, knowing Kimbrel was out there? It’s a long season, and that’s the beauty of baseball. Lots of games, but every win is very important. Hard to put a price on that, especially with the track record that Kimbrel brings.
Well last year kimbrel blew 5 saves so he may be worse than that hypothetical flawed closer.
Kimbrel is a real talent… BUT he had a spike in HRs, WHIP, and his FIP hit what had to be close to a career high.
Don’t ask for versatility either – 4, 5, or 6 out saves are beyond a nailbiter, you’ll be down to the bone b the end.
And non-save situations? Guy struggles to perform at replacement level more often than not.
Sign him to be a 3 out save guy, hope that the tipping pitches thing was as deep as it went, and cross your fingers that the spike in last year’s stats were an abberation. Otherwise, no, don’t give him 15mil/yr.
You mean minus the Yankees who have already gone there at 86 million. Dodgers with Jansen for 80 million, and San Fran with Melancon at 62 million?
Kimbrel has a better track record than all 3.
It’s like saying Trout shouldn’t ask for more than Harper or Machado.
Wow! That’s bold! I mean, threatening to sit out 2019, leaving millions on the table. Now that’s bold! Wait….is bold the right word?
stupid is the word that comes to mind.
Certainly when you walk away from many millions you won’t get that season back and who knows how much rust with a season on the shelf.
GREED
Half the teams are bad, the good teams need 3 or 4 top relievers. Paying 18/20 million is bad for business. He should have done an extension after 2017. Only season of the past fourthat has been outstanding. Can probably get 4 for 60
The Rockies would agree…..
Entitlement seems rapant in today’s game. You are only worth what somebody is willing to pay. To react like a 2nd grader “I’m taking my ball home, unless” reveals more about Kimbrel than the saber-metric FO’s…
What is he smoking? He literally went to pieces in the playoffs and he wants to eat clips Chatman’s contract? LOL!
Auto-correct’s a b*tch, ain’t it?
I don’t know who this Chatman is, but I don’t think he wants to eat his clips.
It’s Chapman eating cl*ts…must be an Orange is the New Black reference…
Closers are like kickers in football, no one values them enough until they have a bad one. He’s one of the best in the league and league history and deserves to be paid like it…I still can’t believe he’s only 30, I thought he was older
No one is saying he doesn’t deserve to be paid. The question is: How much and for how many years?
He and his agent obviously value his services at a much higher level than do teams.
He is within his rights to ask, and they are within theirs to refuse.
It’s business.
Yeah, good luck with that Kimbrel. Wanting and worth are TWO different things.
I agree, these players nowadays are soo freaking greedy. You’re trying to tell me that if some team offers you a 4 yr, $70 million contract, you’re going to turn it down??? That’s life changing money. Players these days need to see that owners in baseball are a lot smarter and realize that there’s no need to overpay for players. It’s unbelievable how the mindset of some of these players work.
You people are daft. Players holding out for more is what moves the needle. One million is a lot of money compared to the average salary of an American. Should Kimbrel sign for one million just because it’s a lot of money?
@oldoak33
Spoken like a true moron. No player and I mean NO PLAYER, should get paid more than $17 million a season to pitch one maybe two innings max a game. That’s just bad business and ludicrous. Too many athletes are greedy and have forgotten the fact that they have the unique honor of playing a game as a profession while making millions of dollars. It’s absurd.
MFD
I appreciate your virtue signaling, but it’s not incumbent upon a human being to take less than they can get in a given format just because you perceive them to be lucky for what they have.
I think getting paid to sit at a desk all day, make phone calls and punch a calculator while making a six figure salary is pretty lucky, but people still ask for raises.
One of my favorite hobbies is cooking. I derive a lot of pleasure from culinary arts, but if a world class chef decides he/she could make more money for their services I’m not going to chastise them for being greedy about something that’s fun and fulfilling from my perspective. Demanding they check their privilege.
We live in a country where the poorest among us are in a better position than millions of others on the planet. If you make $32k a year, that puts you in the top 1% of earners on the planet. So should you not strive for more and try to earn more just because some Joe on the internet thinks you’re greedy because you have so much while so many others suffer?
Are you also forgetting who pays players salaries? The billionaire owners will certainly not be putting more money in YOUR pocket if Kimbrel signs for $10MM as opposed to $18MM. How do YOU benefit in any way from a player getting paid less? You don’t.
I already posed this question, but what do you think Kimbrel’s market is based on his comps (Chapman, W Davis, Jansen)?
It would be a mistake for him to sit the season out. His market value would be less and being out for a season at his age is going to bring a lot of question marks.
His best bet is to sign a one year deal with a player option.
If he has another All Star season he can opt out and test the market again.
Do one of those multi-option deals. He gets a two year deal plus a single year player option, and his team gets a three year option.
If I was him I’d want to play as much as possible if for no other reason than to pad my legacy. He’s made loads of money already, now has a WS ring, seven All-Star appearances, and a 36 save campaign (very realistic as he’s averaged that amount across the past three seasons) in 2019 would shoot him past five players to move him into 9th all time on the career saves list; just 145 more saves would tie him with Lee Smith for third on the list, and that’s pretty realistic, too. Tack on a few more All-Star nods and he’ll be a Hall of Famer. I mean I know that baseball is something where your time frame to cash in is very limited, but I don’t see why someone in his position wouldn’t be content to take something more reasonable like $15 mil a year over three seasons and then re-enter the market to stay on a team like Boston who could very well win a few more titles in a window of about the next 3-5 seasons; with New York really being the only serious threat in the East at least you know Boston will likely be going to the Wild Card Game at worst.
Go Craig & make a point if you do sit out!!! in the end, you did ot for nothing as you just hurt your value money amd teammate wise.
Yikes! To think we have a couple of commenters here bent out of shape with the use of “ask” as a noun in the article. What say you, dragqueen?
Fake news
fake response
fake comment
fake post
Very few closers have maintained elite effectiveness into their mid to late 30’s. Kimbrel could be one, but that’s a ton of money to give for a position that occasionally can be filled by some flame-throwing converted starter who might not even be arb-eligible yet.
30 year old relievers who sit out a season don’t get more money the next season…,lol.
Ill be in the minority here but I have respect for the fact that Kimbrel is sticking to his guns. Is he worth 5 years 86 million at this point? Debatable. However even in his down years he has been one of the best relievers in the game since he arrived in the big leagues, and he deserves to get paid. I don’t have a clue who is gonna sign him but you can guarentee that there will be a team out there who at some point this season is gonna wish they had.
He deserves to be paid, he does not deserve to be paid whatever he wants. The guy pitches 60 innings a year. He’s simply not worth what he’s asking, even if he doesn’t decline, as the odds say he probably will.
So based on his comps (Chapman, Wade Davis, and Jansen) how much does he deserve?
I know this may sound like a conspiracy to some, but I think this is an act of collusion and owner “groupthink” in shaping markets in the now and near future (maybe hoping to trend long term). I don’t care about the merits or strength of Kimbrel’s expectations. I think the lack of signings of many legitimate stars and starters (or some not being able to wait it out and going to a minor league signing) by many of the owners is a way to turn the fans against the players and have them rooting for the real money makers — the owners. Any thoughts on this, people?
Instead of people getting triggered by my comment here, can we please have a civil discussion. Names and insults will be ignored.
Why in the world would anyone give this guy a 6yr deal anyways? He wasent even all that good Last yr. At least not at a level I’d be trying to give this guy a record deal.. most red Sox fans I know, which is a ton, didn’t even want to resign this guy, period.. some of these players are crazy. Sit out then. Who gives a crap if Craig Kimbrel dosent play this yr? Oh ya, no one
If the Red Sox had the money then I would absolutely be rooting for them to resign him. Not to a 6 year deal of course, but the bullpen would look considerably better with Kimbrel closing. Barnes was good last year but who knows if he can repeat his performance this year.
if we couldnt afford Kelly we sure in hell wont sign Kimbrel – i was really hopeing we could work something out with JK.
Oh yeah it’s never gonna happen. I didn’t mind Kelly but for a 3 year contract the Dodgers can have him.
Still hope by braves are trying to get him. I know we won’t offer the money he wants but we should still have an open contract at all times to him until he signs.
What is most amusing – yes amusing – is Ty’s attempt to chastize teams because of their reluctance/refusal to meet Kimbrel’s contract demands. It’s as if it’s a moral issue.
The apparent attitude is that because some teams “can” afford him, that they should meet his asking price – no questions asked. That is, because he wants it you should pay him, regardless of whether the team believes he’s worth it.
But it doesn’t logically follow that just because Kimbrel wants it that it makes sense for that particular team, even if they have it to spend.
Sure Kimbrel’s FB velocity is still there, but he had a not-so-good postseason, and maybe teams that were scouting him saw something.
He’s also headed into his decline years but wants record money and years. It makes sense to me that teams don’t want to sink that kind of money into a guy that only pitches a third of the innings if a SP, no matter how good he happens to be.
Bingo. The article is absurd.
I don’t like your opinion. I’m sitting this article out!
I’m tired of these guys wanting to get paid for their past – then they come off of a bad season going into free agency and then they think everyone should pay them for their numbers they had during their prime … then cry about teams not wanting to pay them in their declining years … (declining, I mean mathematically their not as good of years)
You are a prophet and can predict the future? All you can pay on is past performance.
Every time i see/read/hear a player willfully considering sitting out a season because he wants more money/years, i think of Jermaine Dye. He, at 35, believed he was at superstar status and wanted to be paid at that level. He had a good, not great, final season but didn’t get the offers he wanted and 2 years later he announced his retirement.
I understand it’s apples to oranges, when comparing the two, but egos are a dangerous thing when it comes to money.
Better comp than the Le’Veon Bell comparison everyone has been throwing about.
Dye is one of those guys you forget was around and a damn good hitter for a few years
Every single team in baseball is waiting for Kimbrel’s ask to come down. If it doesn’t come down, Kimbrel’s A should sit down until he decides to reduce his ask.
Relievers pay is going down. I can see him signing 3/50
Relievers have recieved record amounts the past 3 seasons.
I suspect he’d take less years and less money than he’s demanding publicly, but that he’s feeling aggrieved by the Red Sox’s failure to pursue him and would take fewer years and less money from another team than he’d be willing to accept from the Sox. He shouldn’t let emotions shape his decision, should temper his demands and sign a 3-year deal with Boston.
Don’t put words in his brain…..
I would give him 100 million for 20 years, something like Bruce Sutter received, end of problem lol.
What is so wrong about deferred money, I ask?
That way your ex wives can’t blow it all at once!
But I’m not bitter…..
If he doesn’t have a multi-year offer to his liking he should take a one year $18-$19 mil deal. He can re-enter free agency next year with no qualifying offer attached, and can establish that whatever flaw that was discovered in the playoffs has been addressed.
Kimbrel is the best in the game. Even at his worst at the end of last year he did not blow the games. He just made them closer than they should have been. Teams that are paying big contracts are putting the players out of business. I think the players have to start recognizing that this is what is happening. For free agency to truly work players should be able to play for a team of their choice and not feel that they must make more than any other player who is comparable. It’s a simple pyramid scheme. Cannot be maintained. Unless the fans want to pay $1,000 per game.
I don’t think you understand pyramid schemes.
Quiet! I just sold him a bridge…..
It’s not a pyramid scheme. It’s a funnel system!
I’m an actuary. I understand exactly what I’m talking about.
I know an actuary. She wanted to be a accountant but wasn’t smart enough.
Same. I dropped out of Accounting 101 with an F. One math degree and 10 actuarial exams later, I’m an actuary. Go figure.
Teams used to overspend on players and now teams are standing strong in being fiscally responsible. However, players and their unions are pissed because they want to always top last years contracts. Can we not have a couple of down years without blowing it up?
Yankees…..
I said it once and i’ll say it again . Kimbrel/Agent you’re crazy if you want an average of 20$ millon for a closer. I can get at least a few quality RP’s for that price, a quality or even star player for that, and also a top 3 SP for that. Because guess what? You don’t get into save situations without having quality SP, RP, and hitting in the first place. Even if ticket sales and revenue could go up by signing this player, which I admit is a possibilty, it still doesn’t address how greedy players can become during the negotiation process. This is especially a big red flag for small market teams who need SP and Hitters before even thinking about a closer. You’re out of your mind asking for that, so go ahead and sit out,
Sounds like Craig has a ten cent head. Take a high AAV ST deal and bet on yourself if you’re not satisfied with what’s out there. I’m sure he’d have no problems finding a suitor if he wanted a 1/20. Take the approach Trevor Bauer says he’s going to do and sign a one year deal every year. If you’re pitching at a high level you’ll get all the money you’re asking for now if the contracts with security aren’t to his liking.
“Boston, of course, would owe the righty nearly $30MM in 2019 if it were to sign him to a deal approaching his reputed ask, and can be reasonably excused for its reluctance.”
Kimbrel doesn’t get nearly 30 mil, but that would be the cost associated with signing him to said ask.
Yep. What is their luxury tax? 50%?
42%, and they’re around 5 mil from the 75% threshold
As a lifetime Sawx fan I am grateful for his contributions, and enjoyed watching him save a ton of games, unfortunately, I believe his turning 31 In May pushes the max limit on a long term contract to three years and maybe 50 Mil if he’s fortunate.
I really don’t think sitting out a year would change a whole lot.
From Kimbrel’s perspective — it is a bummer since both Chapman and Jansen signed deals in excess of 80m each, when he [Kimbrel] has actually been better than both. But it has to be considered that Chapman/Jansen were both younger than Kimbrel is now at the time they signed their deals.
He’s gonna sit out the season…lol ok
Yes.
Counter-production if I’ve ever heard it. Go ahead Craig. You show them owners.
You haven’t heard it, because it’s not a word. It’s counter-productive.
And that’s not what would show the owners. That would embarrass the PA leadership (it would essentially be a one man strike, because the PA leaders failed to protect the players’ interests to his satisfaction)
And then the PA leadership would punish the owners for it, in the next CBA negotiations. And that would cost the owners a LOT more money than it would to make a few changes right now, and move this free agent market along (for instance, get rid of the penalties for signing guys who refused a QO….that, by itself, would probably close the gap between Kimbrel and his suitors.)
The PA is terrible. They are agreeing to all kinds on nonsense Manfred wants to test out (like that dumb pitch clock idea), and getting nothing in return.
Here’s an idea: from now on, the answer is an automatic no to every suggestion Manfred has, until there’s a deal to get rid of the QO penalties….because they’re playing a big role in holding up deals.
And yes, I understand that’s not the reason why Kimbrel isn’t getting 6 years, $100M. But it IS the reason why he’s not getting a more reasonable offer with a player opt-out after a year. He would take that, especially if it’s something like a $5M signing bonus, plus 5 years, $75M. And a team would be okay with giving him $20M for 2019, and then letting him opt out….if they didn’t also lose a draft pick and international pool space. It’s not worth giving up so much for just one year of Kimbrel.
Why would you sit out? At least take a lucrative 1 year deal
No one wants to give him a lucrative one year deal. He comes with QO penalties attached. So it’s not worth taking on those penalties, just to have a reliever for one year.
Hope he sits out this year! Everyone loves greedy millionaires.
Ah, another great job of reporting made up mumbojumbo.
C’mon Twins this is your guy.
Writes article. An hour later. Whole article is false. Media.
Jim Bowden is an idiot.
I’m sure this threat to “sit out” is posturing. But I still feel he’s overplaying his hand on this. Just accept a 3-4 year deal with the right AAV bro, you’re 31 going into this season.
Does anyone remember Doubleheader’s and $1 beers?
Don’t tell me the great Jim Bowden is wrong? This Never happens!!
Shocking!!
4 years,60m is completely reasonable.
I especially love the earliest comments as this discussion should be about ask as a noun because the topic is idiotic.
There are other teams out there other than the Red Sox and nobody has signed Kimbrel so what does that tell you?
They don’t want to pay the price he is “axing” for.
There is also likely a drag on his offers due to the qualifying offer.
I believe if Kimbrel waits until after the draft the Red Sox don’t get a compensatory draft pick? Can anyone out there please confirm that that is the way it works that knows the answer?
So why wouldn’t the Red Sox try to negotiate a lower compensatory pick with a team that wants to sign Kimbrel and get something for Kimbrel rather than zero after the June draft, if my assumption is correct and Kimbrel is waiting until after the draft to sign by the Red Sox and Kimbrel and teams interested in signing him?
And the Red Sox don’t seem too keen to sign him and pay the penalty.
So I’m guessing this is a game of chicken?
True about signing after draft.
Thank you.
So it’s to Kimbrel’s advantage to sign in June after the draft.
Or for Boston to negotiate a draft pick or 2 down with a team that wants to sign him.
Boston has said he is a likely Hall of Famer and will not likely resign Kimbrel in 2019 probable due to luxury tax and draft pick considerations.
No one in Boston or in the press seems to know of a creative way to resign Kimbrel and not have it cost them plenty.
So tell me where is goes?
I’m “axing” you?
LOL
only compensatory picks are tradeable. and even then you have to trade stuff for them. And the losing team in free agency does not get the winning team’s pick anymore either. So Boston could negotiate nothing.
6 years/$100 million? Lol
This guy is delusional.
If he gets 4/60 that will be a mistake for some team.
Only chance he has to get even that is philly.
I usually side with players but this is one instance where I am not so sure a player deserves what they are asking for.
The fact is baseball teams have finally gotten smarter than the players. A 3 out pitcher who pitchers 70 IP a year is not worth as much as players think they are worth.
Yep
5 years for 15 million for 75 total would likely get a deal; Cardinals should consider. Teams should get 3 quality years and 2 potential years as a set up 8th inning pitcher.
Isn’t Bowden the same guy that said that Machado was signing with the Phillies? If he says it, its usually wrong. Same with Nightengale. My son did a search in January of every free agent “prediction” by Nightengale for the past 7 years and could not find one time where he was right. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. It’s almost like the teams and agents are purposely giving Bowden and Nightengale false info because they know they will repeat it with no double checking with other sources.
Yes, but don’t forget a blind squirrel has an advantage.
They can smell ………..
One of the few jobs in America that doesn’t pay you for past performance. Also, one of the few jobs that pays you millions of dollars to play a game lol
I’m asking anyone that may know the answer to this?
If the Red Sox sign/resign Kimbrel in 2019 and for 2020-2022 (which is most likely what he’s going to get somewhere) what is the estimated damage to the Red Sox in 2019 if they resign him?
Assuming Kimbrel gets what he’s logically worth?
Say somewhere between $60-90M total and for at least $16-17M/year for 4/5 years?
Once they hit their tax threshold they’ll be paying $0.75 for ever dollar spent, so $1.75 if I’m right. So $16M-$17M would equate to $28M-$29.75M. Unless in that time they’re able to shed payroll one year and bring down the tax penalties.
The penalty would only be for the 2019 season, assuming they get under the tax threshold next year and in years beyond.
So here’s the question?
Do they pay extra money for one year and keep their talent and keep a proven winner together or do they think they can get comparable talent for less money or get by without it?
The Red Sox bullpen is deep and talented, and these kinds of articles are pro-free agent propaganda. Every closer has to get the first chance to close.. Barnes has the stuff to close. Brasier, in exactly half the innings Kimbrel pitched, had much better stats and pitched better than Craig in October. If Thornburgh is healthy, he’s a solid closer candidate. The Sox bullpen is so crowded Workman is on the bubble, and he’s solid.
I expect them to pick up an affordable lefty, but the panic over their bullpen is nonsense. And I, for one, will enjoy not sweating out every Kimbrel save, with 25 pitches an inning, multiple walks and 3-2 counts. I’ll take Koji’s style every time.
mmmph – Jim Bowden is never ever wrong. Kimbrel’s agent must be incorrect. /sarcasm
Don’t blame any team not signing. The demands and dollars are ridiculous. 31 years old come on. Let him sit at home and watch games on T.V. Greed from players like him have killed the enjoyment. Get up and go to work daily like the rest of us and you would sign for “ a paltry” $1,000,000. Get over yourselves already.
Oh make no mistake – He’ll take a high annual 1-2 year deal before ever considering taking a year off. Taking a year off would be a terrible decision. I think the demand (contending teams without closing options) just is not where it needs to be in order to get considerable bidding for his services. It’ll be interesting to see where he eventually lands and on a short term deal a trade at the deadline to a needy team would appear likely if said team is not in potential playoff position at that time.
So, does Bowden get credit for the scoop that Kimbrel would sit out 2019? Maybe people should take note that these guys make up insider information just to make themselves look good.
He’s worth the McCutchen contract. Three years guaranteed with a mutual fourth.
Pitchers and Hitters are different animals. Risk of injury is much higher with pitchers as is performance decline. Long term deals with pitchers are not very desirable as history has shown time and again to prove troublesome to mlb teams.
I would like to see the poll we filled out for free agent predictions. I can’t remember where I had Craig Kimbrel going. I don’t think I’m doing very well.