Craig Kimbrel will not be present at Fenway Park when the Boston Red Sox receive their championship rings for winning last year’s World Series.
Kimbrel, currently a free agent, has reportedly drawn interest from several teams, including the Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins. It appears unlikely Kimbrel will wear a Red Sox jersey this season.
With his free agent status in mind and apparent decision by Boston to not re-sign him, Kimbrel has decided not to attend the club’s World Series ring ceremony on Tuesday.
“While he really appreciated our invite and outreach, he feels his attendance might create a distraction,” Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy said via MLB.com. “Out of respect for his teammates, he has chosen to not attend. While disappointed, we totally respect and understand his decision.”
Kimbrel appeared in 63 games for the Red Sox in 2018. He pitched to a 2.74 ERA and recorded 42 saves, second most in the American League. Kimbrel was named an All-Star all three of the seasons he spent with the Red Sox.
Given his track record, it’s reasonable to expect Kimbrel will not be without a team much longer. If it was up to Nationals fans, Kimbrel would have been on their team yesterday.
