As of right now, the Dodgers are in a very good spot. Coming off back-to-back league pennants and making a handful of strong acquisitions this offseason, Los Angeles looks poised for yet another run at the title of World Champions, a tag the team has been without since the 1988 season.
The Dodgers already harbor one of the best bullpens in the game with the National League’s best closer, Kenley Jansen. Alongside Jansen, the Dodgers filled the set-up gap this offseason by inking a deal with the reigning World Series champion flamethrower, Joe Kelly. However, the Dodgers could claim the rank as the very best in baseball with the acquisition of Craig Kimbrel.
Currently and historically, the Dodgers have been a franchise known for suiting up great pitchers. And, like the Dodgers, Craig Kimbrel is currently and historically great. Handling a career 1.95 ERA, Kimbrel has the lowest career ERA of any reliever to throw 300 or more innings in their career. Pair that with the likes of Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly, and the Dodgers would showcase undeniably the best bullpen in the National League.
Craig Kimbrel’s free agency stint this offseason has been a long, grueling one for both him and his agent. Rumors have swirled around Kimbrel, which were stated to be false by Kimbrel’s agent, Dave Meter, about the possibility of Kimbrel sitting out of Major League Baseball as a strike against the commonplace theme of team owners and executives being stingy to pay top dollar for top level talent. The Dodgers reportedly offered the now-Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, Bryce Harper, a record-breaking $45M AAV on a 5-year deal, showing that the Dodgers are willing to push the envelope for star players.
Something the Dodgers have struggled with in the past few seasons where the team made a deep playoff run is having the firepower in the ‘pen that’s needed to shutdown opponents in the late innings, and the team’s front office realizes this. The Dodgers made a strong investment in Joe Kelly this offseason in an attempt to bolster the bullpen, and still have a good deal of space below the Competitive Balance (Luxury) Tax.
While Kimbrel isn’t exactly a necessity for the Dodgers, his presence on the roster could very well be what sends the Dodgers back to the Fall Classic in 2019, and make sure they don’t leave empty handed.