Philadelphia Phillies: Five players to reunite with Dave Dombrowski
The Philadelphia Phillies could take a flyer on a Hall of Fame-caliber closer.
In November 2015 Dombrowski pulled off one of his classic blockbuster trades, acquiring closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres for four prospects, including Logan Allen and Manuel Margot.
While not as effective as he was in Atlanta, Kimbrel made three All-Star games in Boston and finished sixth in the Cy Young in 2017 with 42 saves and a 2.74 ERA. His playoff struggles caused him to go unsigned early in the 2019 season before the Chicago Cubs gave him a three-year $43 million deal.
Kimbrel’s tenure in Chicago has been rocky, to say the least, posting a 6.00 ERA in 41 games with only 15 saves. He’s dealt with elbow and knee injuries, but he has a track record of being the game’s best closer over the last decade with 348 saves and a career 2.17 ERA, which includes those two horrible seasons in Chicago.
Chicago, like the Phillies, is looking to shed money in 2021, making Kimbrel’s $16 million deal a potential cap casualty. If the Cubs take a portion of Kimbrel’s contract and the Phillies are paying him at a slight discount, the upside would be tremendous.
Kimbrel does have a $16 million vesting/club option for 2022, which vests if he finishes 55 games in 2021 and passes a physical, or appears in 92 games in 2022, which would be highly unlikely.
There is a $1 million buyout that would increase to $2 million if he finishes 53 games in 2021, something he hasn’t done since 2018.
Next. Dave Dombrowski's history of blockbuster trades. dark
Philadelphia’s bullpen with Kimbrel being even 80% of what he was in Atlanta would be a major upgrade. Dombrowski noted in his press conference that he still believes in having a full-time closer, something many argue the Phillies don’t have.