With the best reliever on the market still on the market, in a winnable window, and with an injured closer, it makes all the sense in the world for the Cubs Brewers to pounce on Craig Kimbrel. Negotiations on that front are apparently underway.
And they may have just gotten an extra nudge, because Jeremy Jeffress is not the only key Brewers reliever that might be dealing with some kind of issue:
Corey Knebel has indeed taken a break for a few days as @ByRobertMurray reported, but Brewers GM David Stearns says he has nothing to add at the moment. Something to monitor in the coming days. Initial 25-man roster isn’t due until 11am CT on Opening Day.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 21, 2019
It sounds like Knebel, who has had injury issues in the past, might be dealing with a bit of dead arm or something like that. But, even if that’s the case, it can sap velocity and spin for a while, and the Brewers might consider it the extra push needed to finalize a deal with Kimbrel. Or, perhaps it’s a more serious issue, and the Brewers are trying to tightly control that info while negotiating with Kimbrel.
Stay tuned, stay in horror.
UPDATE: Well, the Knebel half of this sounds bad for the Brewers:
Brewers reliever Corey Knebel will have his elbow examined today by Dr. Raasch. “There’s reason for concern,” Craig Counsell said.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 21, 2019