Dodgers acquire All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from White Sox

The Los Angeles Dodgers have found their closer. The Chicago White Sox announced on Friday that they've traded right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel to Los Angeles.

In exchange for Kimbrel, the Dodgers are sending outfielder A.J. Pollock to the White Sox.

This is the kind of deal that you almost knew the Dodgers were going to make before spring training ended, especially with the departure of Kenley Jansen. Manager Dave Roberts hadn't named a closer yet, though Blake Treinen was likely to be the one if the roster remained the way it was. But restricting Treinen to the ninth inning would be a waste of his talents, since he's one of the best arms the Dodgers have for high-leverage situations. Adding the 33-year-old Kimbrel to their bullpen locks down the ninth inning and gives Roberts a little more flexibility in the late innings.

The Dodgers acquiring Kimbrel specifically is interesting. He began 2021 with the Chicago Cubs, and was part of their great talent exodus before the trade deadline. And with the way he pitched through July 30, he was a hot commodity. He had an 0.49 ERA in 39 games, notching 23 saves.

However, when Kimbrel was traded to the White Sox, he began playing like a different person — a person who was not as good at pitching. In 24 games for the White Sox, Kimbrel had a 5.09 ERA. He was largely a setup guy for Chicago, often pitching the eighth inning, but still found the opportunity to blow three saves.

Kimbrel's performance with the White Sox is more indicative of how he's pitched overall in the last few years, with his ERA in 2019 and 2020 both well over 5. But his sub-1 ERA with the Cubs last year made it clear he still has the stuff to devastate hitters in the ninth inning. We don't know what version of Kimbrel the Dodgers will get this season, but they're obviously hoping he returns to pitching like pre-White Sox Kimbrel rather than post-White Sox Kimbrel.