Philadelphia Phillies Best 'Under-the-Radar' Move This Winter Was for Vaunted Dodgers Closer
The Philadelphia Phillies made some incredibly massive splashes this MLB offseason. They kicked off the winter by adding the best shortstop on the market, Trea Turner, to a 10-year, $300 million deal.
Next they added starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, Matt Strahm, and then doubled down and bolstered their bullpen even further by signing Craig Kimbrel.
Of all the additions the Phillies made this season, The Athletic's Matt Gelb claimed that the best 'under-the-radar' addition the team made was former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel.
"Is anything the Phillies did this winter under the radar," writes Gelb. "Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers in the sport’s history, and he signed for $10 million — but not as a traditional closer. There is work to do after Kimbrel, 34, stumbled to the end of his time with the Dodgers. Maybe there is nothing left in a storied career. Or, maybe the Phillies can apply some adjustments and deploy him in favorable spots. They’ve made worse bets."
As Gelb alluded to, not much was "under-the-radar" when it came to the Phillies this winter. That's just President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski's style. Go big or go home.
But Kimbrel being the choice makes sense. He is coming off of a two season stretch that could be considered a mixed bag. The vaunted righty is not as dominant as he once was, but Philadelphia doesn't need him to be. They have José Alvarado and Seranthony Domínguez to worry about the eighth and ninth innings.
What they do have in Kimbrel is a veteran they can trust to work the sixth and seventh cleanly in a situation that holds less pressure.
It's a good fit and a great move.
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