We’ve heard very little to this point about the market for veteran closer Craig Kimbrel. That may be due to his eye-popping asking price: over $100MM, per Jayson Stark of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Kimbrel and his reps at SportsMeter are obviously shooting for a record-breaking pact, at least as a starting point. It had previously been reported that the 30-year-old hurler was looking for six years, which has never before been secured by a reliever on the open market.
To this point, the largest and longest relief pitching contract is the five-year, $86MM Aroldis Chapman deal with the Yankees. That level of pay is obviously reserved for the truly elite relief arms — those few who, like Kimbrel, have been utterly dominant for extended stretches of time.
When the 2017 season came to a close, a nine-figure promise seemed well within reach for Kimbrel, who for the fourth time threw at least sixty innings of sub-2.00 ERA ball — and did so with an insane combination of 126 strikeouts against just 14 walks. He induced swinging strikes on just under one in five of the pitches he threw while maintaining a career-high 98.7 mph average fastball velocity.
Unfortunately, the final year of Kimbrel’s contract — an extension long ago inked with the Braves, then traded to the Padres and on to the Red Sox — was not to that standard. Kimbrel ended the 2018 campaign with a 2.74 ERA in 62 1/3 innings, with an excellent but hardly otherworldly mix of 13.9 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9. He still pumped 97.5 with the heater, though that was the first time he had dipped below a 98 mph mean heater since 2013.
Most worrying of all was Kimbrel’s uncomfortable postseason effort. It’d be silly to make too much of some brief struggles, and it all worked out in the end, but we’re talking about marketing a player as an unmatchable finishing piece for a team that wants to win it all.
There’s little doubt that Kimbrel’s October scuffles dented his armor a bit, though he also shouldn’t be counted out for a return to glory. Two of Kimbrel’s least-effective seasons have come among the past three, but he’s still unquestionably among the game’s very best relief pitchers. And his durability has been exemplary as well.
Entering the winter, MLBTR predicted that Kimbrel would set a new record, but only for average annual value for a reliever contract rather than total guarantee. It remains to be seen how things develop, but it’s notable that he’s aiming quite high to open the market.
Hahahahaha, nine figures? Hahaha, let’s see if some idiot gives it to him!
Don’t take my spot next time, K buddy? Or we’ll be seeing a lot less of you around here. Reported.
Ha!! Ok, that was a good one I legit laughed
Ha. This. :-D
Hahahahaha, really didn’t notice, maybe I can get 100 down votes? Bring em! Lol
He and you both forgot “Go Yankees.” I have to report that too LOL
Go Yankees
Nah, all about those old guys like me, GO Giants!
Giants 4 life
I usually don’t like any of these “I hate xabial” posts, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t laugh out loud at this one
Xabial – lol
Kimbrel – gtfo
Come on Dave. Man up. Sign him. You’re already over the limit. Might as well blow John Henry’s money completely. PS-you May want to invest in additional medical staff for your pitchers. 2019 is going to be DL time.
MS55. Your jealousy is showing. I give Cashman credit for his team’s consistency but such only goes so far. The Yankees of the late 90s were basically built and handed to him. Winning the WS is what it’s all about. You think Sox fan’s care today about their team’s failures in 11, 12,14 and 15? Not when you again win. Talk to me in 2021 should Boston collapse in 19 and 20.
My money says yes, someone will bite
No
I really thought a Sox reunion was more than possible when the season ended. Now I see only Philly or Atlanta. Six years was laughed at so now the spin is $100m+. More laughter and less respect than Rodney Dangerfield ever got. Too bad because he has overall been dominant. Last impression can be long. I earlier suggested 3 x$20m so he could save face and claim the highest avg ever for a closer and that might be the best he’s going to get unless he wants to take a one year deal and try again next year.
deweybelongsinthehall – We can’t be THAT “stupid”…
Not sure what you mean. Stupid contracts are handed out each year. Look what Philly just gave out to McC. Who were they bidding against? Atlanta might make a great offer to bring him home and the Phillies need a closer and their owner has already backed up his stupid money comment.
It’s time to pony up Marc…your team is worth everything, right?
Braves pass even if a reunion is a good story. But thanks for thinking of us.
Why doesn’t he ask for 20 years and $500 billion?
too many zeros to fit on a check?
What if he asked to be paid exclusively in those really big checks?
Nah, I’d make him take it in pennies.
Happy Gilmore style
Tax bracket doesn’t exist?
Oh, he’s found a loophole. Brilliant!
Have fun not having a Job craig
It’s just a starting point for negotiations. It’ll surely come down
He’ll keep it high but realize that no sane GM will sign a one inning reliever for 100 million. So, he’ll take a one year contract with the Sox and try to rebound next year.
He can rebound with a career year but still wouldn’t get a $100 mil from anyone.
If Chapman got 6 years his deal would have been $103 million.
Its not really a starting point. When the ask is that absurd it becomes a non-starter. Its so overpriced no one takes it serious and do not even bother wasting time making an offer at this point
Too many teams need a closer and he’s one of the best. But his agents are grossly overestimating his worth right now.
Chapman got $17.2 million AAV, that is more than a $100 million pace for 6 years.
Chapman didn’t sign when he jacked in the post season. He’s got too many hi stress innning, plus his cute beard might be pulling his arm trajectory down. Lol
As good as Kimbrel is, the years and asking price is way to high. Should he get more money than every other closer? I dont think so…
Especially since he’s been in decline the last two years.
ummm 2017 was a very elite season
2018 was just decent, however, and he was AWFUL in the postseason. He was the anti-Eovaldi in that regard. I’m not even sure he’ll match Eovalldi’s money now. A year ago that would have been unthinkable.
dont think playoff performance effects free agency that much.
See: Yu Darvish, David Price, etc
Anyone who watched Boston during his time there will admit he got the job done but was wild and walked too many. Him, Kelly and Barnes all had fans nervous. Love to still have him but Britton to me is the best value out there.
WTF are you talking about. He had 6 saves. No blown saves.
You obviously didn’t watch the games if that’s your angle.
Take a look at his 2017 stats and tell me about his decline. Even this year was below 2017 but not far at all from ’15 and ’16. I am not saying that any team should give him anywhere close to what he’s asking though
2017 was arguably the best season of his career. Not buying that one. 2018 is a different story.
Dudes been shaky for awhile now. He works more tight rope acts then any top closer should.
LMAO. His shaky year was still good enough for 3rd best in the game. Better than Jansen. Better than Chapman who missed time to injury. His worst season is better than all but 2 other guys and that is a testament to just how good he is.
Why not? He has the best stats of any reliever in history. Better than Chapman who got 5/92 or $17.2 million AAV. That would be $103 million for 6 years.
Good luck.
We get it, he has a chance at the best closer in history, but 100M for a reliever is crazy. hes looking at like 5/75
This.
probably wouldn’t even give him that, just sign a cheaper option
4/72 or 5/85 and he will probably sign a deal like that!! That’s about $17-18M per year
Dude, best closer in history? Take a seat.
You better take a look at the stats. He has been better to this point in his career than Mo. That is the best. The gold standard. No one has been better.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
Take a seat.
He is looking like 5/90+. He will get more than Chapman or Jansen.
Breaking: Craig Kimbrel enters in-patient treatment program.
Joining you?
He’ll get Chapman money at the end. His people are just starting high in negotiations. It just so happens that 20% higher is ONE HUNDRED MILLION dollars.
This year Craig Kimbrel ranked 23rd among all relievers with 1.5 fWAR:
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
… and fourth over the past three seasons:
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
WAR for relievers. That is funny. He had the 3rd most saves. That is a closer’s job.
He has literally the best stats in history.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
Sit down.
Oh dear lord please don’t let this be the stupid money…
Agreed
I’d take like 3/60 for stupid money, not long money though.
Always been a fan of Kimbrel. Love his mentality. Go get him cash!
What kind of contract would be the most you’d be ok with the yanks giving him?
Anything to get it done. As long as we also get Harper. :)
These big reliever contracts almost never come close to working out. I think he’s going to look more like Melancon than not
Neither of those guys are going to NYY.
I can’t see the Yanks bring in on him. I’m hoping they resign Robertson and Britton.
Actually Kimbrel on the Yankees means we all won’t have to look at his disgusting beard anymore…
Hell. No.
I love baseball!
LMFAO!
This is not unreasonable! Don’t laugh at this. He’s a good reliever. I’d pay him 140 M.
Is that you, Craig?
And that’s why you’re not a GM my friend. This dude goes one inning every game. Yes, that inning is normally 1-2-3, but it’s still only one inning.
In this day and age of younger, cheaper flamethrowing arms, Kimbrel needs to be realistic. But, he’s entitled to look just as silly as all the other guys shooting for the moon. Let’s see what he settles for… 4 / $70M to the Phillies…
Kimbrel as your avatar, nice !
That’s fair, but is he worth that? This guy ranked 23rd in fWAR last season, remember. Plus, GM’s like guys with postseason success even though it might not accurately reflect how good a player is
fWAR, F that. When you are talking about relievers and you bring up WAR you just look stupid.
If the final game of the Red Sox-Yankees ALDS is an indicator, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for the team that pays him.
He is asking for something he knows he can never get so when a team signed him for less they will think they got a bargain but in actuality he will have gotten exactly what he wanted. Look for a deal probably around five years and 85 million.
Agreed. Negotiations 101
The Braves should give him a 10-figure contract:
5 years/$75,000,000.00
I like what you did there
Braves should aim higher, like Soroka, Riley and William Contreras for Realmuto and Steckenrider ;)
Left unsaid, because the Meetings have been rather slow, is that every FA has gotten what they wanted….heck, Lynn and Morton got MORE than they could have expected.
Ownership is (a) flush with money and (b) under pressure to spend it. They’ll be some records set. And ya, 400M? Yep…….
B i n g o !!!
And it happens every year.
Who in their right mind gives a rapidly deteriorating Andrew McCutchen that many years for that AAV? The man is a year behind Adam Jones. But every year there are desperate teams – front offices and ownership – that flex their muscles for their fans…..knowing the body isn’t really strong.
And this years cliche in both the comment section and the articles……
“They can flip him at the deadline”.
Sounds like a bad used car salesperson’s pitch……or a line from Steinfeld.
Hahahaha.
.
.
Cashman:
.
.
Hold my beer
asking for a bigger contract than chapman while being 4 years older than chapman
While being better than Chapman.
2 years older at time of free agency but I see your point
Bahahaha. $100,000,000 for a 30 year old on the DECLINE. Lucky if he has 2 DECENT years left.
this is a completely insane statement, youre literally saying all players over 33 suck. like no, just stop it
Agreed! Just Turner is very bad at baseball, and he’s like what, 37? Old players just got retired.
more time than not, they are though.
Wasn’t that good in the WS
6 years and 9 figures?
Come on, dude. “Only if she 5’3”
Good luck! He will be sitting all season if he doesn’t return to planet earth.
This is Jayson Stark reporting it. Grain of salt, people.
You mean the Jason Stark that just got the most prestigious award in sports journalism? The guy that is one of the very most respected guys in the industry? Yeah, I will believe that he is right.
Do you even throw 100, bro?
Gave me a heart attack the whole playoffs. I’m ready to move on. Make Eovaldi the closer.
Hahahaha
100 million for 60 innings a year. That’s the equivalent of 7 games a year. I don’t care how good he was.
I guess none of you know how negotiations work. Obviously hes not gonna start negotiations asking for 4 yrs/$60mil.
Well at least GMs can plan on him being available in February.
I’m going to bed.
Seeing tomorrow is last day of the meetings, there better be a blockbuster trade.
Good Night
Xabial is my hero, he’s my angel in the outfield, he’s my knight in shining pinstripes.
Love you too
He’s good enough that he’s gonna get a legit good deal no matter what. Might as well test to see how high it can go. Never know, someone might bite. Hope my braves get him but even I know this is asking to much: I think 4 year deal is fair.. money similar to Chapman seems reasonable also
4/82? I think he would take that. What he is asking for is Chapman money over 6 years. He will probably settle for a higher AAV over 5 years.
I meant more on a per year Chapman money, or slightly higher. Not overall. My head thinks one thing my words say another
Too funny
4/65 or gtfo
“Who do you think I am ? Mark Melancon ?” – Kimbrel
the day a reliever gets 9 figures, is the day i stop watching baseball.
Guess your baseball watching days are over.
Get the hell outta town! This would hamstring any team out there.
Gonna have to pay him in Bitcoin at this ask.
Sign Harper, let him play 8 in the field and close the game in the 9th. Only give him off on day game after night game…. get your moneys worth
Harpers going to the Yankees. Book it!
Everyone’s going to the Yankees !!
I feel like he was shaky a lot over the last year. I realize he’s had a great career but man I don’t trust this guy long term at all. Plus he’s older than the other top closers like Chapman when they got their deals. Stay away
any chance of him not playing ST and missing regular season games by signing late?
Kimbrel is living in crazy town!
Arguably the best reliever in the history of baseball should get paid. More than the 2nd tier guys like Chapman and Jansen. They got $17.2 million and $16 million AAV respectively. He should get more. $100 million may be a bit much though. 5/$90 million is reasonable.
Craig, is that you ?
Yes. And anyone who doesn’t know my stats is a moron. I will post them for you since all Giants fans have been idiots since they left NYC.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
Gonna have to argue pretty hard for that. Go.
No one is stupid enough to pay this… Well, maybe the Nationals.
The Yankees paid Chapman $17.2 million AAV for 5 years. That is $103 million for 6 years. That is exactly what Kimbrel is asking for.
Yeah, and I’m reportedly seeking a woman with beer-flavored nipples. And ?
Insane demands… Kimbrel should be avoided. My max offer to him would be 4 years and 75 million. Heck, My max offer to any closer would be 4 years 75 million. Closers simply aren’t worth as much as the market has made them out to be nowadays. What makes more sense is to develop pitchers from within and construct bullpens that have electric arms from top to bottom and let the team close out games by committee or go let one guy out of the bunch earn the 9th. Once they are a free agent, repeat the process and figure out another closer from within or a cheaper, effective external arm.
$18.75 million AAV? OK. That would be the most in history for a reliever by $1.5 million per year. For 5 seasons that is $93.75 million. I am sure Kimbrel would settle for that.
Kimby ain’t no Mo.
Nope. To this point in his career he has been better than Mo.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
I say kimbrel gets 5/135
No way he does. I think he gets 6 years at 105 million max.
Depends how desperate the team who signs him is. Maybe the mariners but now it looks like they are doing a light rebuild so who knows .
Phillies could. If they lose out on Harper and Machado. Although they’ll end up getting Harper.
The Phillies are spending like a drunken xabial, so it’s a possibility.
Boop
The Phillies were out on Corbin at 6 and out on Happ at 3. No way they spend $100,000,000 plus on a reliever.
I’ve got Kimbrel pegged for the Phillies, still say he goes there. He’s the perfect fit and they can stupidly spend on him
Pirates
Nine figures. Stupid idea, stupid writing of a stupid idea. Never going to happen. Waste of screen space.
Hes gonna end up a free agent well into spring training if he wants that much money and years. He’ll “settle” for 3 years maybe 4 and 65mil
That’s what I ask for at the sperm bank, but rarely do I get it.
You keep referring to aroldis chapman having the longest contract for a reliever. In 1976 Rollie fingers signed a 6 year contract with the San Diego Padres…take THAT from a fan who predates all the computerization numbers that take the humanity out of baseball
Red Sox fan who thinks Kimberly should get 4/56 top. A great, great talent but there there is this intangible that out weighs many of the modern measurements. It is called courage and sadly Kimberly seems to lack it in big moments
Meant K I m b r e l. Auto correct did me in. Sorry. After reading all posts, maybe I was low, maybe 4/64 but this guy is a bad contract waiting to happen. I hope the Red Sox stay away from him
This article isn’t about the yankmees but yet yankmee trolls are here talking about it . Go to school you bums.
Bet he gets at least 80. Shoot for the stars and maybe land on the moon instead. It’s still closer to outer space than most of ya’ll will get!