If the Braves were to add elite closer Craig Kimbrel, then many of the naysayers about the offseason should quiet down some. But there have been few reports recently that suggest the Braves are still interested, while a division rival is reportedly making inroads on signing the seven-time all-star.
It almost makes too much sense. There really has not been a market on Craig Kimbrel, why shouldn’t the Atlanta Braves swoop in on a short-term deal to solidify what was their weak link last year?
Yeah, about that.
All is quiet from the Braves or at least publicly, while the Washington Nationals are now discussing signing Kimbrel or at least that is what ESPN’s Keith Law is hearing.
Then Paul Crane of Scout’s Honor brought up two points of interest: first, the Rays are reportedly set to offer Kimbrel a three-year deal and then in a response to a question about the Braves’ interest, Crane said if they are talking with Kimbrel, then it is being done in secret.
Hearing Craig Kimbrel about to get 3 yr offer from TB Rays. Kimbrel continues to insist on 5 yrs, + has not yet allowed any team to complete an actual offer. Will see if that changes now. @ScoutsHonorPod @929TheGame @knoxbardeen
— Paul Crane (@PaulCrane7) March 3, 2019
If Braves doing anything I'm told it's being done in "total secrecy." All quiet.. to us.
— Paul Crane (@PaulCrane7) March 3, 2019
I trust Law because of his industry sources and Crane has been right this offseason with the Braves (Nick Markakis), so this leads to the painful conclusion that none of us wants to hear.
So if Kimbrel indeed signs with the Nationals and the Braves were not terribly serious, what does this mean for Atlanta?
Besides the obvious of more fan revolt about the lack of movement this offseason, if Kimbrel goes to the Nationals, they are the no-doubt favorites in the NL East.
Combine a top three rotation of Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg with a bullpen of Sean Doolittle, Trevor Rosenthal and Kyle Barraclough setting up Kimbrel in the bullpen and that is a light’s out pitching staff.
While losing Bryce Harper is a huge loss to the lineup, there is still Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, Victor Robles, etc.
Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has refused to be reactionary to what fellow division teams have accomplished this winter, but if the Nats sign Kimbrel…I can’t even think about how incensed Braves Twitter will be if that were to happen.
It always seemed to make sense for the Braves to sign Kimbrel for all of the reasons I have stated—both rational and irrational. Preventing the Nats from signing him almost is the top reason.
Kimbrel needs to sign soon and the Nationals signing him would be reactionary to the Phillies signing Harper. They are trying to cope with losing Harper and what better way to do it than sign perhaps the best closer in the game.
Editor’s Notes updating this topic:
- signing with the Nationals would definitely complicate things for their payroll, which is already on the brink of hitting an expensive luxury tax milestone… so that’s far from a done deal.
- The tweet above about Kimbrel still insisting on 5 years? That actually would explain a lot about why he is still unemployed at this juncture.
Hold on while I throw up.