After Monday’s MLB Draft, all 30 teams can sign Craig Kimbrel without losing a draft pick. Some teams desperately need Kimbrel to either make a deep run in October or reboot their season.
*All stats current as of May 28, 2019
Usually, most Major League Baseball free agents sign with teams before the season starts. Teams rarely sign big names during the season. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado did not sign with their new teams until Spring Training games started in Arizona and Florida. Both players were not baseball’s only free agents looking for employment.
Craig Kimbrel, coming off a 42-save season, looked like a lock to sign a big contract after winning the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. After all, Kimbrel racked up 33 saves, including five 40-save seasons throughout his nine-year career.
Unfortunately, teams did not meet his demands for a new deal, and he was left without a team to begin 2019. Because of Major League Baseball’s draft pick compensation for free agents who reject a qualifying offer, teams did not want to sign Kimbrel and risk losing draft picks and international bonus pool.
After the start of Monday’s draft, teams will not lose draft picks or pool money, meaning Kimbrel may be finally be getting closer to actually playing this season.
Here are five teams that should be lining up for Kimbrel’s services.