Nationals are interested in signing Craig Kimbrel, a move with various implications
The National League East is gearing up for a thrilling 2019 season and after the splashy signing of Bryce Harper by the Philadelphia Phillies, the free agent eyes move on to closer Craig Kimbrel.
The Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves are both in on the right-hander, looking to shore up the bullpen with Harper still in the division. Even the Phillies are in on the closer, per the Washington Post.
The Nationals are interested in signing Kimbrel to a long-term deal, per weekend reports, but there are considerations that include the luxury tax threshold, the fit in the bullpen and the impact on signing extensions down the road.
Kimbrel awaiting big deal
Kimbrel, 30, is fresh off a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox to conclude a roller coaster postseason. His overall 2.74 season ERA in 2018 was the second-highest of his career. The right-hander notched 42 saves in 47 chances and went 5-1.
It was reported at the winter meetings in December he was looking for a six-year deal worth more than $100 million, a record for a reliever. Per a report in late February, that price hasn’t dropped. The Athletic reported Monday his camp has “come down some” from that price point, though there’s no reported number on what that might mean.
The Red Sox were reportedly never interested in committing that type of money for a closer and it seems other teams aren’t too willing, either, with spring training well underway and Kimbrel still a free agent.
Nats face luxury tax impact
Washington is close to the first luxury tax threshold with luxury tax payroll of $201.47 million, per rosterresource.com. The first threshold is $206 million, followed by $226 million and $246 million.
Ownership reportedly isn’t willing to go over that first threshold, according to reports by MASN’s Pete Kerzel and MLB.com Nationals writer Jamal Collier. Doing so would mean paying 50 percent on every dollar spent over that limit since it’s the third season the team has gone over. They’d also lose their third- and sixth-round picks in the 2019 first-year player draft, per MLB Trade Rumors.
That’s in addition to the second- and fifth-round picks they already gave up when signing Patrick Corbin to the starting rotation.
If they came in under $206 million, it will reset the penalties, which seems to be what team officials want rather than sign more pieces.
The team has already spent in the offseason, shelling out $140 million in a six-year deal to Corbin. They signed Kurt Suzuki to a two-year, $10 million deal and Anibal Sanchez to a two-year, $19 million contract. They also added Matt Adams and Trevor Rosenthal to one-year, sub-$10 million deals plus traded for Kyle Barraclough and Yan Gomes.
That money was freed up partially by the end of Harper’s contract.
‘Fit’ also a concern
Adding a new piece is always a leap of faith into chemistry and teamwork and it’s something front office employees don’t take lightly. With spring training already underway, it takes it to another level.
“We go to painstaking routes to make sure that we know the backgrounds of these players and what makes them tick and their personalities and that type of thing and make a decision based on those things,” general manger Mike Rizzo said over the weekend, per The Athletic. “The fit in the clubhouse is very important.”
Signing Kimbrel would bump Sean Doolittle up a few innings in the reliever progression. The lefty went 3-3 with a 1.60 ERA and 25 saves in his first full season with the Nationals.
The team added Rosenthal and Barraclough as well. Of course, Rosenthal is coming off Tommy John surgery and Barraclough dealt with a toe injury that forced him to miss three months. Fellow relievers have also dealt with injuries, putting the Nationals in consideration for Kimbrel in the first place.
And as noted by Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, a long-term deal with Kimbrel could mean issues when the Nationals go to extend third baseman Anthony Rendon, who becomes a free agent at the end of the year.
Why the interest, then?
Kimbrel would bolster any bullpen, the obvious starting topic to “why.” The tax implications are small, in relative terms, for a team that should be doing everything it can to keep up in a division where every team has the power to win it.
Adding Kimbrel could take pressure off of Doolittle and give certainty to a reliever corps with a lot of question marks, most of which revolve around health. It also lightens the load.
Manager Dave Martinez pointed that direction in remarks Sunday morning, per the Washington Post.
“Like I’ve said, my biggest concern is keeping these guys healthy,” he said. “ ... Keeping all these guys healthy is the key. If we can stay healthy, our bullpen’s going to be really good.”
It can’t be overstated in the NL arms race, signing Kimbrel would take him away from any divisional rival.
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