Potential Landing Spots: Is Craig Kimbrel an option for Atlanta via trade?
The Chicago Cubs have lost 11 consecutive games, which has turned them from potential buyers into a team that could very well sell of some pieces before the July 30 trade deadline.
Much of the focus if Jed Hoyer and company ultimately sell will be on the team's three notable impending free agents: Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez. However, ESPN's Buster Olney says that if closer Craig Kimbrel is made available, he'll be "the most coveted player in the trade market," and that doesn't just refer to players on the Cubs.
Kimbrel recently learned that he's been selected to his eighth career All-Star team, further bolstering an intriguing Hall of Fame case. For the 33-year-old, it will be his first trip to the midsummer classic since 2018, and he's earned it, having converted on 20 of 22 save attempts while posting a minuscule 0.59 ERA.
It's quite the resurgence for Kimbrel, who the Cubs probably had buyer's remorse about after he posted a 6.00 ERA in 41 games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Now, the $16 million club/vesting option in Kimbrel's contract for 2022 hardly looks unappealing.
With all that in mind, here's a look at four contenders who could potentially be landing spots for perhaps the best reliever of his era:
