Rosenthal: Cubs “Pushing Hard” for Craig Kimbrel (UPDATES)
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH:
#Cubs pushing hard for Kimbrel, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 5, 2019
Free agent closer Craig Kimbrel makes so much sense for the Cubs for reasons we’ve been laying out for weeks now, so this report shouldn’t be a surprise in that regard, but obviously there is plenty of competition. Things figured to loosen up this week as the draft took place and draft pick compensation fell off the table.
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, among our words on why the Cubs should go after him:
The Long Layoff Might Make Craig Kimbrel Suck … But the Cubs Should Sign Him Anyway https://t.co/as7WsRlsCz pic.twitter.com/M5ZhS1LG0o
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 2, 2019
UPDATE: One formerly prominent suitor for Kimbrel is reportedly out:
The #Braves are *not* among the finalists to sign Craig Kimbrel, source says. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 5, 2019
The Braves have been exceedingly cost-conscious this year, despite needs in the bullpen.
UPDATE 2: Well this is not actually meaningful, but it’s just kind of fun – Yu Darvish wants the Cubs to sign Kimbrel:
lol pic.twitter.com/wWDuIGP2sf
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) June 5, 2019
UPDATE 3: Speaking of Cubs players wanting Kimbrel:
“If they're going to bring somebody, you know it's going to be somebody that's going to help.”
Cubs reportedly “pushing hard” for Kimbrel. And that’s fine by Strop. A look at the changing landscape leading to the Cubs’ pursuit: https://t.co/goJqisrRJ5 via @MLB
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 5, 2019
UPDATE 4: Jon Morosi is on The Score, talking about this story:
"My understanding is that he'd (Kimbrel) like this deal to not just be one year. With Kuechel he may be willing to retest things again this off-season but with Kimbrel that he wants that second year on the deal" – Jon Morosi with us just now. @670TheScore
— McNeil & Parkins (@McNeil_Parkins) June 5, 2019
The Cubs, you’ll recall, have a need in the bullpen beyond this year and also have a ton of money coming off the books. Guaranteeing Kimbrel a second year shouldn’t be a roadblock for them, even as they try to get the best deal they can.
This, well, this just seems way too optimistic:
Morosi adds that once Kimbrel signs it will take a week to 10 days before he'd be ready to join the big league squad. @670TheScore
— McNeil & Parkins (@McNeil_Parkins) June 5, 2019
I know Kimbrel has been throwing, but it’s just not the same thing as gearing your body up for the highest level of competition. I would think more like a couple weeks to ramp up, and then at least a few rehab appearances over another week in order to be ready, so you’d be talking about more than three weeks before he’d be in a big league bullpen.
UPDATE 5: More from Morosi, including what he’s hearing on frontrunner status:
Insider @jonmorosi told @McNeil_Parkins he believes the #Cubs are the front runners for Craig Kimbrel.
— Jay Zawaski (@JayZawaski670) June 5, 2019
Please.
UPDATE 6: Jesse Rogers was just on ESPN Radio with his update, which was essentially that he hasn’t heard what Ken Rosenthal is hearing, even as he’s dug in to try to get more. Instead, all he’s heard is what was expected: yeah, Cubs might be kicking the tires, but there’s no word that he’s hearing about the Cubs being aggressive or favorites or anything like that.
