The Boston Red Sox appear to be loading up for a run at the World Series, while the San Diego Padres are taking a step back from trying to contend, and are re-stocking for tomorrow.
The Red Sox acquired right-hander Craig Kimbrel from the Padres on Friday night, CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman confirmed, with the Padres receiveing four prospects in return: outfielder Manuel Margot, shortstop Javier Guerra, middle infielder Carlos Asuaje and right-handed pitcher Logan Allen. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal had the initial report.
New general manager Mike Hazen, under the direction of new team president Dave Dombrowski, shored up the bullpen with one of the elite relief pitchers in the league over the last five seasons. Kimbrel, 27, has posted a 1.70 ERA with a 91 percent save-conversion rate, along with 523 strikeouts in 327 2/3 innings since 2011. He’s under contract for at least the next two seasons for a total of $24.5 million, not including a club option for 2018 at $13 million, with a $1 million buyout.
In trading for Kimbrel, the Red Sox might have gotten away more cheaply than if they had dealt for left-hander Aroldis Chapman of the Reds. The Red Sox had been rumored to be interested in Chapman, and the Reds are said to be shopping him, but price — for Boston –simply might have been too high.
Kimbrel consistently throws a 98-mph four-seam fastball, but if there are any concerns about him, it’s that his strikeout percentage — 36.4 — was the lowest of his career, and the number has been dropping (albeit from a ridiculous high of 50.2 in 2012). His line-drive percentage has risen every full year he’s been in the league, his extra-base hits allowed were up in 2015, as were his home runs allowed. Still, he seems to be adjusting to the league adjusting to him; Kimbrel posted a .426 OPS against in the second half of 2015.
Boston’s 4.24 bullpen ERA was fifth-worst in the majors in 2015, and its .783 OPS against was last. The team’s previous closer, 40-year-old Koji Uehara, was effective again but ended the season injured with a broken hand. He figures to move into a setup role with the addition of Kimbrel, who has saved 225 games in his career.
If you’re curious about Kimbrel looks like in a Red Sox uniform, wonder no more!
Craig Kimbrel in a #RedSox uniform. pic.twitter.com/a7HW4IOMiI
— Joon Lee (@iamjoonlee) November 14, 2015
At the other end of the trade, it appears that Padres GM A.J. Preller is breaking up what he expected to be a contender — but was not — in 2015. The Padres recently traded Joaquin Benoit to the Mariners for prospects, and now have raided the Red Sox for more in exchange for Kimbrel. The Padres figure to add a draft pick as compensation for losing Justin Upton in free agency after he declined their qualifying offer on Friday. He would have cost at least $15.8 million to retain. The Padres, at this point, would rather regroup.
“We feel like we got guys that will be a part of a championship team in the future.” – Preller on trade
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) November 14, 2015
The Red Sox are giving up perhaps three of their top 12 prospects, according to at least one reporter who covers the team, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Guerra, 20, is said to be a top defensive shortstop and the best of the prospects. He spent 2015 with Class A Greenville, hitting .279 with a .329 on-base percentage and .449 slugging percentage with 15 home runs, 68 RBI, 64 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 116 games.
Reporter Corey Brock, who covers the Padres for MLB.com said the team will give Guerra a shot to win the starting shortstop in spring training.
Margot, 21, is seen as a solid center-field prospect after batting a combined .276/.324/.419 with 27 doubles, nine triples, six home runs, 50 RBI, 73 runs scored and 39 stolen bases in 110 games between Class A and Double-A.
Allen, 18, is the other higher-end prospect, posting a 1.11 ERA with 26 strikeouts and one walk over 24 1/3 innings between rookie ball and Class A Lowell.
The Red Sox still have other prospects (and better ones, along with young players already on the active roster) available for more trades if they want to go that route. But they might not have to, if they prefer only to sacrifice the prospects traded in the Kimbrel deal and supplement the roster with free agents. Adding someone such as right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, for example, would make sense.
The Red Sox picked up closer Craig Kimbrel on Friday. (USATSI)
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