The season is now well underway, and there’s still no evidence that free agent hurlers Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel are close to inking new deals. It has mostly been crickets on the markets for both.
Kimbrel’s slate of potential suitors isn’t any clearer now than it was when we examined his market situation in early March. Neither has anything of significance occurred since we took a look at the possible Keuchel suitors about a week ago.
Those accomplished hurlers have to this point evidently not been willing to settle for pillow deals. It’s hard to blame them for that stance. It also makes it that much harder to guess how things will turn out — and when there’ll be a resolution.
Teams are continuing to make long-term investments in existing players through contract extensions, so it’s not as if they aren’t willing or able to consider future commitments at this stage of the season. But the ongoing insistence on multiple years seemingly makes it likelier that talks will continue to drag.
Waiting until after the June draft would allow the players to shed draft compensation requirements. When last we saw players approaching this caliber languish on the market into the season, one (Stephen Drew) inked in May while the other (Kendrys Morales) waited until just after the draft. Both settled for single-season deals.
When do you think Kimbrel will end up signing? (Link for app users.)
And how about Keuchel? (Link for app users.)
Never
Never and a day.
Is Bob Melvin manager for life in Oakland?
kimbel will sign in January of 2020
I didn’t kill my wife!!
I don’t care!
Jumps into the river
And the cold water swept him away.
Guy pulled a Peter Pan right off this drain
It wasn’t me! It was the one-armed man!
Both players far overplayed their hands and are getting punished for it. They need to fire their agents for failing at their jobs, get new representation, forget about the $ for this year and get back under contract and playing ball asap. This can only hurt their long term prospects, especially Keuchel. I’m an attorney and if I ever mismanaged a case to the degree these agents mismanaged these guy’s offseason I’d be fired in a heartbeat. It’s both your job to represent AND manage your client. These agents failed somewhere in managing their clients expectations and getting them employed.
It’s great for the game to encourage the development of young controllable guys. Tony Clark decried collusion a few weeks ago, then the Trout and Harper sign huge deals along with a few others, so where is the complaining now Tony? Still collusion? Teams should not be criticized for not wanting to over pay for guys like Kimbrel. and Keuchel. Know your market.
Kuechel has a better chance of signing because starting pitching is always in demand and injuries will start hitting. Kimbrel overpriced himself. He was horrible last year and he is tied to compensation. He might sign off on a pro-rated, remaining of the season deal but I don’t see him getting a big, long term deal unless he shows he is a premier closer in the 2nd half.
Kimbrel was not horrible last season. He kind of fell apart closer to the end of the season and the playoffs but he was arguably tipping his pitches. After Gagne called him out he did all right.
Kimbrel wasn’t terrible. He was a top 5 closer in baseball statistically. He just wasn’t his best. His numbers were skewed too because he tipped pitches for a while.,, also, in the playoffs, he wasn’t normal Kimbrel, and he still did not allow a single blown save
I watched him all year. He wasn’t terrible, but he was scary, and his record would have been much worse without the superior Sox offense and outfield defense. His initial demands were deluded, and of course he is “to blame” for the fact that he hasn’t signed yet. He rejected the qualifying offer. He could have signed for, say, 45 million for three years any time he wanted to….and he’s not worth more than that—no closer is.
Anyone who watched Kimbrel in a Sox uniform understands statistics can lie. He was lights out in 2017 but the other two seasons he was Don Stanhouse 2.0 who Earl Weaver nicknamed “two pack” because of the cigarettes he consumed while watching Stanhouse close.
Also, in playoffs, MLB uses smoother ball, less grip for pitchers, more action for viewers.
Interesting! Never heard that before. IMO That shouldn’t affect pitching that much since all pitchers have some kind of sticky residue somewhere on their cap, glove and or uniform. Umpires and managers do nothing about it because all of them do it. When they adjust their caps right before every pitch it’s not because it doesn’t fit properly!
Keuchel and Kimbrel both peaked years ago. They are delusional to think they will get the same money as if they were free agents in 2016 and 2018, respectively.
Well that’s just not true. Kimbrel was a lot better the past two years then he was in 2016, 2017 was one of the best seasons of his career. I understand not wanting to give him a mega contract but let’s not pretend Kimbrel is some bum who has not performed at an elite level recently.
Isn’t 2017 part of the last two years you were referring to?
Lol! Math is skill one must have when you want to argue a point about baseball and stats and money. I you lack the basic math skills do not it is just showing up to a battle of wits unarmed.
lol
Pillow. You’re not better than Chapman, why ask for 100M?
The day after the draft pick stuff goes away.
Yup.
season just started, well underway might be first of may.
Who?
They will sign as soon as they are ready to accept a 2 year deal.
A few more blown leads by the Nats bullpen should help Kimbrel get signed real fast
For some reason the Nationals have never put any money into their bullpen. It has consistently lost us every year both in and out of the playoffs. I cant see the Nationals winning the division if they don’t add someone like Kimbrel. Doolittle already said that he’d give up closer to Kimbrel, if signed.
Ignoring the nailbighters, the stink all season long in hold or non-save opportunities, and the playoff/season end fiasco, Kimbrel also has the distinction of about a 12% blown save rate in 2018.
Savior of the season, especially after sitting out ST and not facing mlb hitters, he is not.
Well… a 12% BS rate is pretty typical and well — WELL — within reason for even exceptional closers. Last year in his historic season, Edwin Diaz had a BS rate of 7%. With as few as 3 inherited runners scoring from 3B on outs, he’d have had a 12% rate…
Some team is waiting in the wings with a contract they’ll agree to waiting for the draft pick loss to be averted. Angels, Padres, Pirates, etc… Could all jump in.
The Nats bullpen is a disaster. Kimbrel just got more valuable.
Our Dodgers could use him bad
Forget those two bums, when will Evan Gattis sign?
The Braves are a couple more embarrassing series away from bringing in at least one of them. I don’t know why teams like the Angels or even Mariners wouldn’t as well, especially if the M’s keep on rolling.
Every team is hot for a week. The Mariners probably won’t make the playoffs and Keuchel, if he is signed in June, would be hard to sell in July
If either was willing to take a 1 or 2 year deal they’d be signed by now. Waiting until after the draft will drop the draft pick, sure but I still don’t see anyone willing to sign them on for the years they want. I just don’t see the market at their asking price.
Kimbrel can start by trimming that dumb beard. Keuchel too.
Don’t you have some clouds to yell at?
Beards on Gingers , just not a good look.
Why do they all have one then?
@Stig – because secretly they’re all leprechauns.
The legend has it wrong though, it’s not the catching that gets you a pot o gold, it’s cutting off a beard while holding one down
There is a combination of player/agent fault for not getting a better read on the somewhat manipulated morphing market, and the owners for some likely collusive elements. Neither of these two players was singled out specifically — they just got the short end of the stick.
In 2020!
Book it!
Where is Evan Gattis?
El Oso Blanco!
Think of the marketing opportunities!
Doesn’t anybody care?
Need a “don’t care” selection. Trying to grab every dollar possible is causing both to lose. It’s wise to take the best offer available as that is pretty much what you are actually worth
With their current demands I just don’t see anyone signing either of them
2nd and 3rd week of April for both
We don’t really know what either of these guys really asked for or was willing to accept, we only know it was more than their (apparently) slim market was offering. But we should acknowledge that there are forces right now that even the most acute of agents might not have realized soon enough. 1st, there’s little doubt that big market teams are seeing, when they want not to spend, the CBT thresholds as a hard cap. Second, the bottom has dropped out of the “competitiveness” market. Many teams just don’t how poor a team they field, as long as it’s the cheapest one possible to maximize their profits. Third, the Union bungled terribly when they failed to realize that focus should have been on the younger player–for service time, for MLB minimums, arbitration, etc.–because that’s where the real squeeze in the market is being enabled. There’s no excuse (for the Union, not the teams, because why not exploit it?) to not realize that there needs to be an alternate to mere service time days. Add in alternate criteria like PA, innings or games pitched. The Union shouldn’t be working for Scott Boras–they should be working for the player coming off a 4 WAR season who sat in the minors for 3 weeks, and won’t reach FA forever, and is being told by management either sign a cheap extension, or play for MMLB minimum as long as we can do it to you.
Maybe the Union out to be focussing on revenue sharing the next time around and making sure teams spend more of what they get.
You don’t have to be very astute as an agent to see that the big spending teams that have always driven the prices up were all against the soft cap. NYY, Boston, LAD, Washington, and Cubs either didn’t have the room, or didn’t really need the player. It’s also not very hard to notice the number of rebuilding teams that weren’t going to be bidding. Add to that the rumors of high asking prices that the agents allegedly started at, and its obviously a poor job by the agent in recognizing the current market.
you can’t blame them for not signing? they aren’t playing. that can’t help their value. the longer they wait the lower the dollar amount will get. they should just settle on a 1 year deal with any team. they will be traded to a contender regardless. then try out the market again and accept the fact that they didn’t play their cards right
They can always go do something else.
I’m probably crazy but I don’t want him or Keuchel at this point. Too many late signings struggle. Apparently pitchers need spring training.
Yeah, tell that to Alex Cora
I seem to recall Roger Clemens, at the end of his career, signing these late half-year-type deals and pitching well in limited starts. Of course, he might have had a little assistance but he was also kind of a workout freak.
….and well into his 40’s. Kuechel and Kimbrel are not.
I really wish the braves would go get both. At the least, kimbrell. I know both is crazy but gosh, we need it
If Robertson and Dominguez keep sucking, Kimbrel will be a Philly within 5 games.
It’s the agent’s job to understand the market and offer advise to their client (the player). That’s why there’s agencies to begin with. The agents of both players clearly misplayed their hands. In particular, the relief market isn’t the same market that saw Chapman and Jansen get deals in excess of $80 million. Michael Brantley was expected to get at least 3-4 years, but settled for two because that’s where his market fell at. Kimbrel was never going to get the 6/100 (I believe that’s what was reported give or take), but here’s thinking he’d be signed yesterday if he was willing to take three years. Whatever money he doesn’t make this year is a loss.
Both over priced,After the Draft and 1 or 2 Year Deals,Good Luck with that
Where is the Who cares vote?
And yet you commented *yawn*
Kimbrel will sign when he stops insisting on a six year contract. If he was willing to sign a three year deal, he’d be pitching now. He’s being ridiculous…
I think both will get a hefty deal if they wait til after the draft for 2 reasons, no draft compensation and teams will be much more desperate for arms as the deadline approaches. Instead of overpaying w/ prospects they’ll overpay w/ money. The question is, do either have the stones to hold out til then?
A better question is why are neither of them signed? The best reliever ever is not playing. Yes, ever. His stats are better than Mo’s. Doesn’t that bother you? It should. I want to see the best players and he is not on the field. Kuechel declined some last year and was still a top 20 pitcher and he doesn’t have a job. That bugs me. Again, I want to see the best players on the field and they are not.
Koamalu the Drama Queen.
I predict 1year deals at best, for a playoff bound team
Ummm.. Theo? You better be on the phone with his agent or Cubs season is over before it even starts
Hate to break it to ya. The Cubs dynasty was over before it began. Theo and Maddon are gone. They won’t survive a necessary rebuild.
Keuchel and Kimbrel have been kidnapped by extraterrestrial aliens.
Keuchel and Kimbrel have been kidnapped by extraterrestrial aliens!
The day of the one inning designated closer is coming to an end. Kimbrel should have taken what he could get in December, January or earlier. Keuchel isn’t as good as he thinks he is or he would have been signed for big $$ earlier. The world has moved on.
How many world Series rings have you won? I get tired of wanna be experts.
What are you doing reading comments on the Internet, then?
hopefully when the player/agent or both stops being greedy. Im not talking about the cheap contract Adam Jones signed, no of course you can expect more than that. But not 20 mil and especially not to a closer if that’s what they’re asking.
It is so early that some comments are laughable. For example, the only complaint by any Braves fan that woukd make sense is if the person making the comment knew which Braves pitchers from their stable of studs were going to take that big step forward and which won’t.
I’ll bet Keuchel is kicking himself for turning down the Astros QO. What was it, 18 million?
Pretty much whenever they want. At this point, they’re looking at a 1 year deal. This being said, if they wait for someone to get desperate due to injury, they could end up with a far more lucrative deal.
The Phillies started out with 3 closers..Hector Scare-us, Seranthony, and Robertson..
This just in, the Phillies need a closer…
Sigh!
Keuchel will sign 3 to 5 days after he hires a new agent.
Hopefully the orioles sign Dallas!