The Los Angeles Dodgers have themselves a new closer.
The Dodgers on Friday made a trade with the Chicago White Sox to bring in Craig Kimbrel. They are sending outfielder A.J. Pollock to the White Sox as part of the deal.
Kimbrel is in the final season of a 3-year deal and set to make $16 million this season. Pollock is making $13 million including his signing bonus, and set to make $10 million next season. No money is changing hands in the deal, meaning the new teams will pick up the respective players’ salaries.
The deal makes plenty of sense. The Dodgers lost Kenley Jansen, their longtime closer, who signed with Atlanta a few weeks ago. They needed some bullpen help and got someone who was unbelievably dominant during the first half of last season. Prior to being traded to the White Sox, Kimbrel posted a 0.49 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 23 saves for the Cubs. However, he was a bad fit in an 8th-inning role for the White Sox since they already had Liam Hendriks at closer.
Pollock batted .297 with an .891 OPS, 21 home runs and 9 stolen bases last season. He is an extra outfielder and DH option for the White Sox and should give them what they were looking for out of Adam Eaton last season.
Photo: Aug 23, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts as he leaves the field after giving up the winning run against the Toronto Blue Jays on a wild pitch in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
