Oct 27, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning in game four of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Unemployed closer Craig Kimbrel’s asking price may have fallen.
The free agent, who pitched for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox last year, originally was seeking a deal in the vicinity of six years for $100 million, The Athletic reported in December.
But on Sunday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that Kimbrel could be willing to take less. Rosenthal tweeted that “Kimbrel continues to seek a deal he believes to be fair” and cited the deals signed by relievers Wade Davis (three years, $52 million) and Zack Britton (three years, $39 million) as benchmarks for Kimbrel.
Kimbrel, who turns 31 in May, was 5-1 with a 2.74 ERA and 42 saves last season. Four times in his nine-year career he has led the league in saves and has 333 for his career.
A seven-time All-Star, Kimbrel has finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award balloting five times. He has a career 31-19 record and 1.91 ERA.
He pitched the first five years of his career for the Atlanta Braves, followed by a season with the San Diego Padres and three years in Boston.
