Cubs, closer Craig Kimbrel agree to three-year deal |
After the rumor mill swirled throughout the day concerning whether or not the Chicago Cubs would ink free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel to a contract, the two sides were able to come to terms on Wednesday night. Per reporter Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and The Athletic, the Cubs reached an agreement with Kimbrel, pending a physical. Specific terms of the deal have were not immediately released, but Rosenthal reported that a multi-year contract had been agreed to. Rosenthal later clarified that the contract is a three-year deal worth close to $45 million.
Kimbrel will now become the closer for the Cubs, who have used a closer by committee for a sizable portion of this season because of injuries to back-end guys Pedro Strop and Brandon Morrow. The elite closer had remained a free agent after not agreeing to a deal in the offseason, as he was in search of a lucrative offer not typically received by a reliever. One of the most talented closers in the history of the game, Kimbrel is a seven-time All-Star and four-time saves leader who served as the closer for last season's World Series-winning Boston Red Sox team. BREAKING: #Cubs in agreement with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic. Multi-year deal for Kimbrel with #Cubs, source tells The Athletic. Kimbrel deal with #Cubs will be three years and close to $45M, sources tell The Athletic.
