About. Damn. Time.
For the first time since the beginning of this past offseason the Cubs are actually being connected to free agent closer Craig Kimbrel. According to Ken Rosenthal, Ben Zobrist’s unexpected departure from the team may just end up giving the team enough wiggle room in their budget to go and sign Kimbrel.
Via The Athletic.
The Cubs are showing interest in Kimbrel, according to major-league sources. An unexpected event – the continued absence of super-utility man Ben Zobrist, 38, who is on the restricted list while going through a divorce from his wife, Julianna – might be creating greater financial flexibility for the club.
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If he remains inactive all season – “I have to think that way, absolutely,” manager Joe Maddon told the Chicago-Sun Times this week – the Cubs potentially would save more than $9 million.
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For now, the Cubs are doing background work on Kimbrel and trying to figure out whether such a move would be financially viable, sources say.
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A few days ago Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said the following on Zobrist as related to the rest of his contract this season and potentially using the saved money to make other moves.
Hoyer also said there is no timetable for Zobrist’s return.
The Cubs aren’t required to pay Zobrist as long as he’s on the restricted list.
Rosenthal also says that the Cubs did explore trying to trade Zobrist in the offseason in an effort to create more payroll flexibility.
Kimbrel was reportedly seeking a deal worth as little as $39 million over three years as recently as mid-April. This might be the most important part. Not only are the Cubs showing interest in Kimbrel, but if Zobrist doesn’t return, then the savings from his contract should enable the Cubs to make additional moves as well.
The luxury tax is thought to be less of an issue for the Cubs, but the credit they would receive on Zobrist should enable them to sign Kimbrel and acquire additional bullpen help while still remaining below the third and highest $246 million threshold.
The Cubs still don’t know when Brandon Morrow is coming back if it all this year, while Pedro Strop is close to returning from the injured list. Steve Cishek has been fine filling in as the closer, but he and the Cubs bullpen would be a lot stronger if he was the seventh-inning guy and not the closer.
Expect the rumors and reports on Kimbrel to really get going Sunday night. That’s when signing Kimbrel will no longer cost teams the loss of a draft pick and pool money.
There will be a lot of teams in on Kimbrel, but finally it looks like the Cubs are on that list.
