The stats don’t make me want to make that call to Wrigley but then we have to talk about the money. So Dirty Craig edges him out in ERA and he also carries one more save with 23 to Barnes’ 22. Matty B has a 2.36 ERA, 13.9 K/9, and 65 strikeouts. Why would Bloom invest in Barnes to be the closer of the future if he was just going to go out and get Kimbrel a few weeks later? Listen, I get that many in Red Sox Nation would love to have Craig back in the bullpen especially with his 0.49 ERA, 15.7 K/9, and 64 strikeouts, but Barnes isn’t exactly Austin Brice over here. So why even approach the Cubs about Kimbrel? As I said above, I get the feeling of wanting to get as many weapons as possible for October considering nobody thought the Sox would see the postseason in 2021, but it just doesn’t make sense. There’s also a club option for the 2024 campaign is Matty Backpacks is still doing the damn thing. In the time that’s passed from that initial report and article Bloom and company have given Barnes a two-year contract extension that will see the closer stay with the club through the 2023 season. Since then, some factors have changed but not enough for me to want the fireballer back in Boston. When that tweet from Buster came out I wrote that Chaim Bloom should stay far away from Kimbrel and I feel that way still to this day. That’s nice and all, but Boston has a closer already in Matt Barnes and last I checked, he’s having one hell of a 2021. I’m still not sold on the idea though.Ī few weeks ago it was mentioned by ESPN’s Buster Olney that the Red Sox could be in the market to bring Dirty Craig back to the squad as he’s having an elite year. Adding a high-level reliever only boosts those odds and having it be someone formerly with the team makes sense as well. That should come as no surprise as Boston is well ahead of their rebuild schedule and have a very strong chance at contending this season.

Per ’s Christopher Smith, there are seven teams that have seriously approached Chicago about taking Kimbrel off of their hands with the Red Sox being one of them. A familiar face in these parts but not one that I believe this team needs to break the bank to bring back to the organization. One name that has come up over and over as a possible target for Boston is Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel. This year feels a lot different than 2020 as we’re buyers now instead of trying to hold a garage sale at Fenway Park. Here we are, friends! A few short days away from another Trade Deadline and the Red Sox are in the thick of things in regards to several possible deals. The Red Sox don’t need to add Craig Kimbrel

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