Philadelphia Phillies: 3 blockbuster trades to make with the Cubs
By David Esser
Craig Kimbrel, RP
It’s no secret that the Philadelphia Phillies need bullpen help, and starting first with the closer position makes the most sense. The team bounced between Hector Neris and Brandon Workman last season – both proving to be disastrous. There’s plenty of elite closers available in free agency that the team could still turn to, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Dombrowski turn to a more familiar face.
Craig Kimbrel was Boston’s closer during the 2018 season – a year where Dombrowski guided the Red Sox to a world championship. Kimbrel was fantastic in the closer role that season, recording 42 saves and a 2.42 ERA.
However, Kimbrel hasn’t looked so hot since leaving Boston, posting a 6.00 ERA across two seasons with the Cubs. Set to earn $16 million in 2021, it’s no surprise that Chicago would like to see him (and his lofty salary) depart sometime in the near future.
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Making a move for Kimbrel would actually work out quite favorably for the Phillies in my opinion, as my guess is Dombrowski could convince the Cubs to eat a majority of his salary. While the Phils are undoubtedly desperate for bullpen help this winter, no-one is banging on the Cubs’ door for Kimbrel and his 6.00 ERA.