Apr 1
by Rowan Kavner
The Dodgers entered this spring in an unfamiliar spot with Kenley Jansen now in Atlanta. Would Blake Treinen assume ninth-inning duties or retain his fireman role for the highest leverage spots? Would the Dodgers go with a closer by committee? The conundrum appears to have gotten some clarity with a major addition to the back end of the bullpen.
The Dodgers acquired eight-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the White Sox on Friday in exchange for outfielder AJ Pollock. Kimbrel is Major League Baseball’s active saves leader (372) and ranks ninth on the all-time list.
Kimbrel spent last year’s All-Star season between the Cubs and White Sox, going a combined 4–5 with a 2.26 ERA, 24 saves and 100 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings. His whiff percentage (43.7%) was the second-best mark among Major League relievers and nearly twice the MLB average (24.6).
Kimbrel’s strikeout percentage (42.6%), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.35) and WHIP (0.91) were his best marks since his 2017 All-Star season in Boston, when he finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting. He held opponents to a .180 batting average against his four-seam fastball and a .111 batting average against his curveball last year. He didn’t allow an extra-base hit on any of his 401 curveballs.
Kimbrel had 23 saves in 39 games for the Cubs, posting a 0.49 ERA while bouncing back from his 2019 (6.53 ERA) and 2020 (5.28) seasons, before getting traded to the White Sox for pitcher Codi Heuer and infielder Nick Madrigal. He served primarily in a set-up role after the trade, going 2–2 with a 5.09 ERA and one save in 24 games with the White Sox.
The 33-year-old enters his 13th Major League season with a career 35–29 record and 2.18 ERA. He was the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year with the Braves in 2011 and has recorded at least 40 saves five times. He is in the final year of his deal.
Pollock played three seasons with the Dodgers, who acquired him as a free agent before the 2019 season. The outfielder hit .282/.337/.519 with 52 home runs over his three seasons. With the Dodgers expected to carry either 15 or 16 pitchers on their Opening Day 28-man active roster, the trade opens the door for another Dodger position player to make the team who otherwise wouldn’t. Chris Taylor and Gavin Lux could also see more playing time.
Pollock’s .892 OPS last year in his age 33 season was the best mark of his 10-year career. He finished last season with a .297 batting average and 21 home runs. His final postseason series with the Dodgers was one of his best, going 8-for-21 with five extra-base hits in the National League Championship Series against the Braves.
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April 02, 2022 at 01:50AM
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Dodgers acquire eight-time All-Star, active saves leader Craig Kimbrel - mlblogs.com
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