The Cubs and free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel have struck an agreement on a deal, pending a physical, according to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
The right-hander, who turned 31 on May 28, hasn’t pitched since last season. He’s a seven-time All-Star who won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018.
“We’ve been open about the fact that, at some point, we’ll probably get some help from outside the organization,” Cubs vice president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said before Wednesday’s game against the Rockies at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs beat out at least one other suitor for Kimbrel, a former four-time NL saves leader whose addition would make the Cubs clear favorites, in the minds of many, in the Central. After veteran late-inning reliever Pedro Strop returned from injury and got the save in the series opener on Tuesday, the Cubs’ bullpen is shaping up — quite suddenly — to be potent.
And that’s with or without Brandon Morrow, who hasn’t pitched in 2019, either, due to injury. Morrow is playing catch from 75 to 90 feet, flipping breaking balls and letting the ball go aggressively, according to Epstein.
Epstein said this Cubs team has “earned” a major midseason reinforcement.
“I think we’ve shown we have a lot of talent,” he said. “I think the way we bounced back from that early-season adversity, we’ve shown some character. I think we’ve shown the rotation has a chance to be a real strength for us and keep us in every single game, just about, with the way they’re throwing the ball. Our offense, there’s been ups and downs, as with any offense, but by and large we’ve shown that the second half [hitting slump] of last season was an aberration.”
