(670 The Score) Before long, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer may be stuck in the middle as he faces a decision on closer Craig Kimbrel’s future.
Kimbrel is off to a phenomenal start, and that fact combined with his expiring contract could make him the Cubs’ most desirable trade chip and the first target of opposing teams that search the market for bullpen reinforcement. When the calls about Kimbrel come, Hoyer is going to have to answer a question.
Do he and the Cubs prioritize a push for the NL Central crown in a division up for grabs or do they prioritize adding assets for their long-term future?
When he was promoted to be the Cubs’ lead baseball executive last fall, Hoyer indicated his goal was for the team to compete for the playoffs in 2021 while also beginning a retooling of the scouting and player development system. Of course, remaining competitive at a high level while replenishing a roster with more young talent is a tall task, which is why Hoyer will find himself in a difficult situation if the Cubs hang around in the NL Central.
Kimbrel, 32, was the Cubs’ last big-money addition in free agency, joining the team on a three-year, $43-million deal in June 2019. He struggled with a 6.53 ERA in 2019, then had a rough start to the 2020 season, quickly losing his closer’s role. But he finished 2020 strong and has been terrific early on this season, as he’s unscored upon in eight innings with a 0.75 WHIP. Kimbrel has struck out 13 batters while walking five and allowing just one hit.
"We had to back off of him and give him some time,” manager David Ross said of using Kimbrel in a setup role in 2020. "We had some other guys who stepped up and filled in. Craig worked at it and eventually worked at becoming the version of himself that we know. He has been successful at closing out games ever since.”
Given that the Cubs traded ace Yu Darvish last December and have their flaws, Hoyer will need to be mindful of not overestimating what his team could accomplish. There’s a recent example in the NL West of the danger in doing so.
In 2019, Farhan Zaidi was in his first season as the Giants’ lead baseball executive. San Francisco was seven games below .500 at the All-Star break but then won 11 of 13 games to open the second half. With the ballpark full of fans on a nightly basis for a team still in contention and a wild-card berth in sight, the Giants held onto left-hander Madison Bumgarner and bullpen stalwarts Will Smith and Tony Watson as the trade deadline came and passed.
The Giants’ performance sunk, as they finished 77-85 and missed the playoffs. Bumgarner, Smith and Watson then all left in free agency.
Soon enough, Hoyer will face a similar question. Should he trade or keep his key players like Kimbrel for the rest of the 2021 season?
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.