Craig Kimbrel...

[notin]

... is nearing a decision, per Rotoworld.

 

No mention of the team beyond the rumored Nationals, who reportedly bowed out earlier this week...

[SCM33]

... is nearing a decision, per Rotoworld.

 

No mention of the team beyond the rumored Nationals, who reportedly bowed out earlier this week...

 

********. Nobody is going to pay him what he wants.

[notin]

It was the vaguest entry ever on Rotoworld. “Nearing a decision” after every team reportedly interested has publicly bowed out?

 

I’m guessing any decision Kimbrel makes this week will be unrelated to baseball. Like maybe he’ll decide to order Mexican over Chinese. Or maybe he’ll decide to take the wife to see “Captain Marvel”.

 

Other than that....

[BillyWilliams]

Will Kimbrel hold out until the summer?

 

March 11, 2019

 

Closer Craig Kimbrel has compiled an impressive resume during his nine seasons in the big leagues, recording a microscopic 1.91 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP, 333 saves and a 14.7 K/9 rate, and he is one of the biggest names remaining on the free-agent market.

 

Below you will find a list of the latest news and rumors surrounding the right-hander.

 

Could Kimbrel sit out until June?

 

March 11: With Opening Day just 17 days away for most Major League clubs, time is of the essence for Kimbrel. Or is it?

 

In a column for The Athletic published Monday, MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal wonders if Kimbrel and his agent, David Meter, would consider holding out until after the MLB Draft in early June. The point of a holdout would be for Kimbrel to shed the Draft pick compensation attached to him by way of rejecting the Red Sox's one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer last November. If Kimbrel re-entered the Hot Stove discussion in mid-June, contenders might be more interested in simply paying an expensive one-year prorated salary to the All-Star closer (in perhaps the neighborhood of $20 million) instead of dealing away top prospects to acquire a different reliever at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Kimbrel could then re-enter free agency next offseason without Draft compensation concerns, and he would figure to be a top dog again in the reliever market.

 

Of course, Kimbrel would still likely prefer to sign a contract before Opening Day, but there has been little public movement from three of his biggest potential suitors in the National League East. The Nationals seem unwilling to surpass the competitive balance tax threshold to sign Kimbrel, Rosenthal notes, while the Braves are more interested in a shorter contract and the Phillies might be hesitant to splurge any further after an expensive offseason. The Red Sox also appear to have moved on from their former closer. Last year, fellow closer Greg Holland wound up signing a $14 million contract right on Opening Day that was ultimately less than the qualifying offer he rejected from the Rockies. Kimbrel is surely looking to avoid the same fate.

 

Craig Kimbrel Rumors

WWW.MLB.COM

---

Closer Craig Kimbrel has compiled an impressive resume during his nine seasons in the big leagues, recording a microscopic 1.91 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP, 333 saves and a 14.7 K/9 rate. Below you will find a list of the latest news and rumors surrounding the right-hander.

[Bellhorn04]

Man, it would be weird if Kimbrel holds out until June.

[mvp 78]

Man, it would be weird if Kimbrel holds out until June.

 

Should have just taken the QO.

[notin]

So who signs last?

 

Craig Kimbrel

Dallas Keuchel

Every NFL free agent

[Kimmi]

I'm wondering what Kimbrel and Keuchel are holding out for. I'm also wondering what types of offers have been made.

 

In other words, which party is being unreasonable in his or their expectations.

[Northern Star]

********. Nobody is going to pay him what he wants.

 

We said that about Harper.

[redsoxrules]

We said that about Harper.

 

Harper wanted over 400M, he didn't get anywhere close to that.

[SCM33]

We said that about Harper.

 

The season begins in 2 weeks. Spring training is REALLY about getting the arms ready. Kimbrel is miles away at this point. Its crazy to say, but if he doesn't sign soon...he may be out of a job......and praying to sign a minor league deal NEXT year.

 

It sounds crazy, but who pays big money for a pitcher than hasnt pitched in a year?

[notin]

Harper wanted over 400M, he didn't get anywhere close to that.

 

 

He got $330million. Which is closer than anyone else ever got...

[redsoxrules]

He got $330million. Which is closer than anyone else ever got...

 

He still didn't get what he wanted. Kimbrel will not get a 100 mil contract

[notin]

He still didn't get what he wanted. Kimbrel will not get a 100 mil contract

 

 

Well, what did either really want?

 

It’s a bad negotiation practice to make your first demand what you actually want. JD Martinez wanted over $200mill last year. He didn’t come close either.

 

Both Kimbrel and Harper - and many other - free agents asked for exorbitant contracts in order to get as much as possible. Harper probably only wanted more money than Stanton got, which he achieved. Kimbrel probably only wanted the highest value or highest AAV for a closer.

 

Kimbrel was never going to get $100mill. He knew it. His agent knew it. We all knew it. But his agent also knew that whatever Kimbrel wanted would be easier to get if he first asked for the moon. Just like JD, Harper, Machado, and lots of other free agents...

[Bellhorn04]

Well, what did either really want?

 

It’s a bad negotiation practice to make your first demand what you actually want. JD Martinez wanted over $200mill last year. He didn’t come close either.

 

Both Kimbrel and Harper - and many other - free agents asked for exorbitant contracts in order to get as much as possible. Harper probably only wanted more money than Stanton got, which he achieved. Kimbrel probably only wanted the highest value or highest AAV for a closer.

 

Kimbrel was never going to get $100mill. He knew it. His agent knew it. We all knew it. But his agent also knew that whatever Kimbrel wanted would be easier to get if he first asked for the moon. Just like JD, Harper, Machado, and lots of other free agents...

 

I'm not convinced that it's a good strategy to start out with an ask that is obviously far-fetched, like JD's last year.

 

I think it's possible that if Kimbrel had been looking for something like 4/70 he'd already be in uniform getting ready for the season.

[notin]

I'm not convinced that it's a good strategy to start out with an ask that is obviously far-fetched, like JD's last year.

 

I think it's possible that if Kimbrel had been looking for something like 4/70 he'd already be in uniform getting ready for the season.

 

 

But he also might be wondering “could I have gotten 6 years and $100mill?”

[Bellhorn04]

But he also might be wondering “could I have gotten 6 years and $100mill?”

 

That's possible. But I think he and his agent may have failed to take into account how much Craig's signs of decline would affect his market in this day of metrics-driven front offices.

 

Or to use one of those cute little expressions, they did a bad job 'reading the tea leaves'.

[notin]

That's possible. But I think he and his agent may have failed to take into account how much Craig's signs of decline would affect his market in this day of metrics-driven front offices.

 

Or to use one of those cute little expressions, they did a bad job 'reading the tea leaves'.

 

 

Clearly they did.

 

None of that changes what Kimbrel might have thought he was worth, however...

[notin]

Should have just taken the QO.

 

 

I say offer it to him again. Use the strategy found on shampoo instructions

 

Lather:

Bring back Kimbrel at 1 year $17.9mill.

Offer Josh Fields the same money he agreed to in LA ($2.2mill)

 

Rinse:

DFA Workman (or Thornburg, but I like Workman less)

DFA Leon

 

That just leaves the final step: Repeat...

[Station 13]

Should have just taken the QO.

 

Remember when the Barves and Phillies were all over him in the off-season? The Natinals even joined in at some point. Kimbrel gotta be thinking what the heck is going on.

 

Right now he should consider signing for $10M. The season opens in 2 weeks, he will most definitely will not be ready.

[moonslav59]

I say offer it to him again. Use the strategy found on shampoo instructions

 

Lather:

Bring back Kimbrel at 1 year $17.9mill.

Offer Josh Fields the same money he agreed to in LA ($2.2mill)

 

Rinse:

DFA Workman (or Thornburg, but I like Workman less)

DFA Leon

 

That just leaves the final step: Repeat...

 

Adding the 50% tax, what would that cost Henry?

 

Rince the soap out of you eyes.

 

Tell me it's worth it.

[notin]

Adding the 50% tax, what would that cost Henry?

 

Rince the soap out of you eyes.

 

Tell me it's worth it.

 

 

For one year?

 

The taxes the Sox would pay would still be roughly equal to what they’re paying Rusney Castillo to crush International League pitching.

 

Except the taxes would only be for one year...

[notin]

... is nearing a decision, per Rotoworld.

 

No mention of the team beyond the rumored Nationals, who reportedly bowed out earlier this week...

 

4 days and no decision. I wonder what Rotoworld was referring to. My guess is "plastic"...

[SCM33]

Teams breaking camp, hes still a FA.

 

Talk about bad advice from your agent.

 

Hes already 2/3 weeks......maybe even 4 weeks away from being MLB ready (depending on his offseason workouts). No team is paying him HALF of what he was looking for AAV.

 

He really screwed himself.

 

Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.

[mvp 78]

Teams breaking camp, hes still a FA.

 

Talk about bad advice from your agent.

 

Hes already 2/3 weeks......maybe even 4 weeks away from being MLB ready (depending on his offseason workouts). No team is paying him HALF of what he was looking for AAV.

 

He really screwed himself.

 

Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.

 

Kimbrel just got Stephen Drew'd.

[notin]

Kimbrel just got Stephen Drew'd.

 

 

Except that Drew didn’t go unsigned because he was asking for record-setting money for a player at his position. Drew just didn’t stand out over other available options who didn’t have draft pick compensation attached.

 

Kimbrel (or more accurately, Kimbrel’s agent) completely misread the market for closers this year, and apparently didn’t budge enough from initial demands. Same as Keuchel. Beyond their own obstinance, there is no reason for either pitcher to still be available...

[mvp 78]

Except that Drew didn’t go unsigned because he was asking for record-setting money for a player at his position. Drew just didn’t stand out over other available options who didn’t have draft pick compensation attached.

 

Kimbrel (or more accurately, Kimbrel’s agent) completely misread the market for closers this year, and apparently didn’t budge enough from initial demands. Same as Keuchel. Beyond their own obstinance, there is no reason for either pitcher to still be available...

 

I stand by my point. Drew should have read the market enough to know that no one was going to dump a 1st rounder just to sign him.

[Slasher9]

the leprechaun may take a bat to his agent. in which case maybe we see CK in the california penal league?

[notin]

I stand by my point. Drew should have read the market enough to know that no one was going to dump a 1st rounder just to sign him.

 

 

Be fair to Drew. That was in the early years of the QO system and no one really knew how protective teams would be if their picks while signing free agents. Teams weren’t all that protective of them in the previous system...

[SCM33]

Be fair to Drew. That was in the early years of the QO system and no one really knew how protective teams would be if their picks while signing free agents. Teams weren’t all that protective of them in the previous system...

 

Why be fair to a greedy player? He did it to himself.