The Philadelphia Phillies have several relievers who are dealing with injuries, and it just so happens that one of the best closers in MLB history remains a free agent. However, it doesn’t seem like there has been any real urgency from them to sign him.
Any team that chooses to sign Craig Kimbrel before June 2 would have to give up a second-round draft pick as compensation. The Phillies don’t have a second-round pick, however, so they would only have to give up a third, or No. 91 overall. Despite that, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted that they have shown no desire to sign Kimbrel now to avoid the potential of multiple teams being interested in him on June 2.
The Phillies have four relievers — Victor Arano, Tommy Hunter, Edubray Ramos and David Robertson — on the injured list, and Rosenthal speculates that giving up a third-round pick is not what is stopping them from signing Kimbrel. Rather, the right-hander’s asking price may still be too high.
Kimbrel was reportedly seeking a five-year, $100 million contract over the summer, but he is said to be open to a three-year deal now. He probably wants something close to the three-year, $52 million deal Wade Davis signed with the Colorado Rockies prior to last season, but Kimbrel is more likely to get that once teams don’t have to give up draft pick compensation.
Several teams are reportedly keeping tabs on Kimbrel, but his performance in the postseason last year may have hurt him. While he has a career 1.91 ERA and 333 saves, Kimbrel was shaky during the Boston Red Sox’s run to the World Series.
