Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
One MLB insider thinks the Boston Red Sox will not land the top closer on the trade market.
The Boston Red Sox have an excellent baseball club, but they may not be able to land the top closer on the market at the trade deadline later this month.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, one high-ranking baseball executive believes the Red Sox are out on acquiring Chicago Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel may have starred in Boston previously, winning a World Series ring in 2018. The same baseball executive believes it will come down to these two teams for Kimbrel’s services: The Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics.
It sounds like if Kimbrel leaves the NL Central later this month, it will be to an AL West contender.
Boston Red Sox: Craig Kimbrel is not expected to return at the trade deadline
Chicago will be one of the most interesting watches as the trade deadline approaches. The Cubs will have to rebuild at some point, possibly as early as next year. While they played great baseball in May and during the first half of June, a terrible April and a bad last few weeks have them falling out of contention fast. They have made tradable assets with Kimbrel possibly the most valuable.
It would make sense for the Cubs to send Kimbrel back over to the American League in a deadline deal. However, they need to get the absolute most for him in a blockbuster trade in the next few weeks. He will be hitting free agency this winter and he is not excepted to return to the rebuilding Cubs on a new deal. Boston might be out of it, but Houston and Oakland have to like their chances.
The Red Sox may not be in the Kimbrel sweepstakes, but a lot can change in the next few weeks.