Phillies were right not to sign reliever Craig Kimbrel
While it was an unpopular decision at the time, the Phillies turned out to be correct by not signing reliever Craig Kimbrel.
Once June rolled around, Phillies fans were anxious for the team to improve the pitching staff one way or another. Two seemingly easy fixes were out there just waiting to be signed and were clamored for often: reliever Craig Kimbrel and starter Dallas Keuchel.
Kimbrel arguably received more attention as the bullpen was having more issues at the time. He was coming off three straight All-Star appearances but remained a free agent well into the season.
Kimbrel ultimately signed with the Cubs on June 7, just a few days after the MLB Draft once he no longer had a pick attached to signing him. Chicago gave him a three-year, $42 million deal with a $16 million team option for 2022. Once the deal was announced, fans were understandably frustrated that he was not coming to Philadelphia.
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However, two months after the deal was signed, avoiding Kimbrel is looking like the right move to make. His start in Chicago has been disastrous.
In 14 appearances as a Cub so far, he has a 5.68 ERA, 6.77 fielding-independent pitching, 1.658 WHIP, and 5.7 walks per nine innings. He has allowed 2.8 home runs per nine innings, almost three times as many as he did last year, which was the worst of his career.
Kimbrel is now on the injured list with swelling in his right knee, although he is expected to return next week when the Cubs play the Phillies. Maybe that knee issue is what led to his early struggles as a Cub. If his numbers are still bad once he returns, the Cubs will have another albatross contract on their hands.
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While Philadlephia’s bullpen continues to struggle, signing Kimbrel would not have done much to help it. At least this way they don’t have even more money committed to a reliever who is making little positive impact for the team.