All winter long and into the season, through the unavailability (for one reason or another) of backend bullpen notables Brandon Morrow, Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards Jr., messaging out of Chicago’s front office has been as consistent as the bullpen has been fickle: the Cubs have no money to spend. Yet, the Northsiders are suddenly showing interest in Craig Kimbrel, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
The Cubs financial story remains the same with one new wrinkle: an unfortunate family situation has left utility maven Ben Zobrist on the restricted list since May 8th. If his divorce continues to keep him out of action – which seems likelier than not at this point – the Cubs could recoup a good portion of his salary (in the neighborhood of $9MM), at least as far as the luxury tax is concerned. This new math could give the Cubs just enough room to make a viable run at Kimbrel. Roster resource pegs Chicago’s luxury tax number at around $223MM, whereas Spotrac puts the Cubs at around $200MM. The latter number puts the Cubs a little more than $5MM shy of paying the luxury tax, but Rosenthal suggests the Cubs aren’t as concerned about the tax in general as they are the $246MM line that incurs the harshest penalties. Whether current spending has them just under the first threshold ($206MM) or the second threshold ($226MM), either valuation of their current payroll ought to leave enough room to make a competitive offer to Kimbrel while staying under (at least) the final tax line. There are, of course, other potential suitors courting Kimbrel.
And yet, even if they can make the math work, the months of consistent messaging casts some doubt onto a Cubs’ pursuit of Kimbrel. What we know for certain is that Theo Epstein and company are not shy about doing due diligence, and if history holds, they’ll make at least one notable move before the trade deadline. Epstein has been active on the trade market throughout his Chicago tenure, making at least one deadline acquisition each season dating back to 2015: Dan Haren (2015), Aroldis Chapman & Mike Montgomery (2016), Jose Quintana, Alex Avila & Justin Wilson (2017), Cole Hamels, Brandon Kintzler & Jesse Chavez (2018). There aren’t many misses in this group either, as most of these acquisitions have found ways to contribute (nor are there many position players).
This year, of course, they won’t have the August 31 deadline to take advantage of as they have in every season since emerging as surprise contenders in 2015: Austin Jackson & Fernando Rodney (2015), Joe Smith (2016), Leonys Martin (2017) and Daniel Murphy (2018). In a condensed trading period, the Cubs may prove more aggressive in pursuing a backend talent like Kimbrel.
Still, this could be the year the Cubs don’t make an impact move. They’re not wholly unprepared to go to battle with the arms in-house, per The Atheltic’s Sahadev Sharma, who spotlights Dillon Maples, Rowan Wick, and Adbert Alzolay as three depth arms who could make a difference this summer.
Maples has a ton of swing-and-miss in his arsenal, but he also doesn’t have a clue how to harness it, as evidenced in his small sample with the big league club this year. Through six appearances, he’s amassed 4 2/3 innings with eight walks and ten strikeouts. A less-than-five-inning sample hardly packs enough punch to make a statement, but still, 15.4 BB/9 and 19.3 K/9 are jarring numbers to see, especially once you notice they aren’t that far off the norm for Maples. In parts of three seasons at Triple-A, Maples owns a 2.93 ERA with 8.0 BB/9 and 16.4 K/9.
Alzolay, meanwhile, has long been a promising arm for Chicago, but he has yet to make his major league debut, while Wick came to the Cubs from the Padres for Jason Vosler this past winter. Wick was recently recalled after posting strong numbers in Iowa (4.14 K/BB). The Cubs should have high aspirations come October, and betting on this trio of arms to outlast a deep division and long playoff run would be a gamble. So while they may be inclined to use the month of June to evaluate the arms in-house, a decision on Kimbrel will have to be made much much sooner.
now?
Yea, now. Draft pick compensation goes away tomorrow night. Kimbrel and Keuchel are both expected to sign somewhere by Monday.
In a short term deal, Kimbrel is worth the risk for many clubs. His wildness though remains a concern long term. In his three years in Boston only in 2017, did his numbers agree with what Sox fans actually saw. He certainly would make most any bullpen today far better but long term I’d still take a pass.
Thank you Johnny Superscout
It’s more likely he will sign with the Braves, Phillies, Rays or Dodgers.
If he wants to close, he’s not going to L.A. Money talks, but money and opportunity are better. This is most likely a 1-year deal, so he’ll want some stats to back up his desire to get a multiterm deal next season.
Take the money. LA recognition will go further than being a closer everyone knows he can close.
What is LA recognition and what does it to for him?
That’s right, nobody pays attention the the Cubs.
There is plenty of opportunity with the Dodgers. Heck he would pitch more if he wasn’t the closer
LA recognition is not a thing and he wants to close. He’ll have more value with recent saves than half a season as a setup man
Where did I say “LA recognition”. You must be seeing things or just looking to mindlessly hate. Opportunity means chances to pitch thats it. Saves dont mean a thing anymore, if they did he would not have had to wait til June to find a job. Morrow from half a season as a setup man with the Dodgers got 20+ million so your argument is a flat out lie
Read the entire string instead responding mindlessly with so much hate. You didn’t say it, but someone else did. That’s what they were referring to. Why are you so mad?
Dude he replied to me. Get the app where you can actually see comment order. If you reply to me dont bring up something someone else said. If he is refering to somethong he said then reply to him, its that simple.
I clicked “Reply` to your comment but I was clearly replying to what the other Dodger fan said and then you as well. I guess I overestimated your knowledge of the contexts and other comments in this thread.
One anecdote (and hiliariously a Dodger one of course) pointing out where a pitcher was not a closer but landed a lucrative deal doesn’t really make much of a case. Look at the historical highest paid RP, basically all closers. Pitching more doesn’t make a reliever more valuable, if anything more innings in a short period of time reduces their value.
Love the “your argument is a flat out lie” part, I gave my opinion. I tend to preface a lot of my comments with “IMO” just because people in sports comment sections take opinions as statements of fact for some reason. Guess I slipped and didn’t include it this time
Your whole basis is closing has more value. It doesn’t in 2019. No front office uses saves to hand out contracts. If Kimbrel and his saves were so good then he wouldn’t have to wait until June for a deal. Set-up men are starting to get huge contracts. Kimbrel has a much better track record than Morrow. If Kimbrel came in and was a solid setup man, with no more draft picks attached he can easily match the deal Britton got.
They will give him the minimum due to their payroll restrictions, someone will give him more. No chance he goes to the Cubs
There are rumors Zobrist is not getting paid while he is on the restricted list.
He’s getting paid but his salary won’t count against the luxury tax.
No, he’s not getting paid. It was just reported that they are saving $75,000 every game he doesn’t play.
If you’d read the article, how they could fit him under the tax level is covered.
I don’t know how to read, but still someone will outbid them. Which ultimately is my point
My man! I don’t know how to read either. Isn’t it great watching all these tools pressing random buttons on the computer while thinking they are accomplishing something? My older brother taught me the most important lesson in life: “Reading sucks @$$.”
What is this guy saying? Can someone help?
Wrong.
Zobrist 9 million plus 5 million they are under is 14 million. If someone wants to pay over 14 million for kimbrel for 100 games this season then let them.
Twins make the most sense, and they have plenty of cash.
Noooo… noooo …. he go to Braves now
Zobrist’s Contract shall have provisions that is guaranteed regardless. Insurance will cover portions of his salary, if the case where the Cubs have such insurance…
Not true. No team is obligated to pay a player who is on the restricted list. He is choosing not to play. No contract obligates them to pay a player who chooses not to fulfill his contract.
Cubs clubhouse has a repeat domestic abuser and a teammate who slept with another teammates wife…going to need some extra zeros on that check Theo
Keep goin’ ….
No one is passing up money because they’ve employed players during their history who’ve been garbage people. Every team has them. No one is passing up money due to your suggestions.
Who’s the teammate that’s accused?
I’d like to know the accused teammate also. And don’t the Yankees employ Chapman now?
Except the police report said Chapman did not abuse his girlfriend as she claimed on the 911 call. That is why no charges were filed.
A Yankee fan talking about a domestic abuser on a team. LOL
Do you have sources on this or are you just spewing bull dung?
I think you’re kind of projecting your views on this stuff on to him and other people. I could care less if my team has domestic abusers on it. No way it would cost more to sign him because of it. Players don’t care at all about this stuff. Many fans don’t either.
Who slept with who’s wife and why have I not heard of this?
Cause he made it up
fiction.
If the braves don’t get him, then braves nation will go mad. Mgmt needs to give him no other reason to sign with any other team. He is a must for us at this point. No other team in baseball has had its fans chanting “we want kimbrel” multiple games this season. NONE! If the draft is holding u back, then sign him immediately after. No bidding war no nothing. The offer has to be that good
Any GM who makes decisions for purely sentimental reasons needs to be fired on the spot, before he ruins the team
I agree on the “sentimental only” reason for a GM firing, however for the Braves going after Kimbrel is a two fold proposition. Yes the sentimental aspect is a part of the discussion, but so is the fact that he would step into a BP that could he could seriously enhance. Minter has what 4 or 5 blown saves? Craig would allow the braves to have better odds on a save. I think I read somewhere that he and Keuchel have both been throwing in SIM games. I don’t think its going to take either long to be ready to go.
You need to be fired if you think we want or need him for purely sentimental reason. We have 9 freaking blown saves this year and a few games where bullpen couldn’t hold the score to give us a chance at a couple back. Our bullpen is brutal. The braves have done nothing to improve the team this offseason after constantly telling fans they have a lot of “financial flexibility” and posting record revenues. It’s absolutely unacceptable that the braves sit in the position they are in because of the lack of simple moves from mgmt. Phillies bought themselves a brand new team, Mets traded/bought themselves a new team. Teams like the cubs have always spent the money to get what they need. Kimbrel is more than a stinking sentimental want. He’s is a must have!!
If the Braves want him, at a price he’s worth, that’s one thing.
The mindset of ‘need’ is what a gm can never have. That’s when they make stupid mistakes.
Well that’s a dumb comment. A gm better not make a move unless he thinks we need it or it’s for the betterment of the team. We NEED a massive bullpen overhaul honestly. Kimbrel would be a start. And no matter what money we spend on him, the honest truth is the braves have the money to rebuild the entire bullpen and still maintain a lot of cash for the future.
This guy gets leave with pay while going through divorce?!? Does anybody else get this benefit while going through divorce?
Yup, they do. It’s entirely at the discretion of the employer, if they deem a domestic issue is effecting work performance.
Did you even read the article?
He’s NOT being paid.
See, here’s the thing. These guys aren’t you. They get stuff you don’t. Because they make a contribution to society that society wants more than the one you make. Players don’t live in the same kind of world, with the same rules that you do. Because they’re some of the very best in the world at what they do, which is something a great number of people will pay money for.
It’s also not really something only baseball players get. Pretty much anybody on a salary as opposed to hourly can ask for a leave of absence to deal with personal issues.
Even hourly works can ask to be taken off their schedule for an extended period.
I wouldn’t say it so emphatically. Zobrist has a great relationship w the Cubs’ manager and front office.
Just bc the Cubs may have found a loophole to prevent his salary from being part of the luxury tax threshold, does not necessarily mean Zobrist wont be paid his salary for this season. But if, on paper, Theo can remove Zo’s salary from the Cubs official payroll, and doing so allows him to add the one thing this team needs most, then it’s a smart move.
Who knows what Theo & Co may have worked out w Ben and his agent(s) behind closed doors. Perhaps they will pay him after the season, and/or only a percentage of what his contract calls for.
If Zobrist has already decided he’s not coming back, trying to help the team any way he can, by deferring his salary or even taking a pay cut, wouldn’t surprise me. Ben is a class act and a team player. Sad he has to go thru this.
“If Zobrist has already decided he’s not coming back, trying to help the team any way he can, by deferring his salary or even taking a pay cut, wouldn’t surprise me.”
Uhh… How about not taking any salary because he’s choosing not to play… The fact that he *might* still be getting paid is ridiculous.
He’s on the restricted list which means the team doesn’t need to pay him but retains his rights.
Zobrist would not expect to be paid in this situation. That’s not the kind of man he is.
wherever he goes it will spell danger for a team that signs him. he is a risk as a reliever to get hurt. he will be on the IL quick
BuT tHe CuBs HaVe nO mOnEy To sPeNd oN pItChInG
You might want to read the article before you comment on it next time?
With Kimbrel’s age and innings load, I would not do any more than a 2 yr. deal. Maybe one year plus option. He’s a great candidate to disappoint after not pitching in mlb for almost 8 months.
Agree. In addition to the realization that he hasn’t pitched in a major league game in approximately 8 months. Sure he kept in shape and pitched sim games but that’s not the the real deal. Certainly within the realm of possibility that Kimbrel will also be amped up and feeling a ton of pressure to succeed with his new team. This should be a situation worth avoiding.
Forget the Cubs, this is between the Braves, Phillies, and Twins.
Do you think the Twins will maintain their run? Lol.
Have you seen that division?
Hurry up and get a deal done.
They should just call up Duane Underwood jr and Adbert Alzolay
That is for spring training and early season experimentation, not in the middle of a pennant race. Those two arms are by no means difference makers. Edwards, Strop, and Cishek are all better. Even Maples is better than those two. The only one needing to be called up is Ian Happ, as Descalso has been trash at 2B.
They need to dfa adduci he’s never been good. Bringing him up over happ was just dumb
The games given away late have definitely led them to lose their hold on first place. Kimbrel is the best option for this team, the minor league arms are just not good enough. Maples is awesome but he makes Maddon too nervous to keep him in longer than a couple of batters. If Morrow and Strop get healthy, combine that with Kimbrel, Edwards, Chatwood, Cishek, and Montgomery. That would easily be the best bullpen in baseball.
Feel bad for Zo, he was a great teammate and a clutch hitter. On the bright side, none of us will have to hear that horrible “Benny and the Jets” cover by his wife as his walk up music if he returns.
No! The guy drives me crazy with his bird-like mound antics. Might be s nice guy, but I can’t stand to watch him.