Chicago White Sox: Craig Kimbrel deal is officially done

The Chicago White Sox just made their biggest deal of the trade deadline. On Thursday, they got their second baseman in Cesar Hernandez from the Cleveland Indians. A few hours later, they acquired Ryan Tepera from the Chicago Cubs who will be one of the key relievers in their bullpen. Just a day later, the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs made another huge trade. Craig Kimbrel is coming to the south side.

The White Sox had a lot of options available to them in terms of relievers. They went out and got the best possible one. The only guy you can claim has been better than Liam Hendriks this season as a closer is Craig Kimbrel. Both of them were All-Stars and now both of them are on the White Sox. It is a trade that allows the White Sox to work towards the playoffs with an amazing bullpen.

The starting rotation is as good as any in the league. Carlos Rodon, Lance Lynn, Dallas Keuchel, Lucas Giolito, and Dylan Cease have all been really good this season. They are now going to be able to hand the ball off to one of the best bullpens in the game.

Craig Kimbrel will join the likes of Liam Hendriks, Michael Kopech, Ryan Tepera, Garrett Crochet, and Aaron Bummer. If all of them pitch as well as we know they can, this team will win a lot of baseball games down the stretch.

The Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs have been getting along great lately.

The White Sox sent Nick Madrigal and Codi Heuer back to the Cubs in exchange for Kimbrel. That is a really nice return for the Cubs as their rebuild is fully underway. Heuer has had some back luck with command this season but he will figure that out and become great. As for Madrigal, he has a chance to become an elite contact hitter.

Madrigal is out for the season with a hamstring issue but he will be back and better than ever in 2022. His ability to hit for contact is as good as anyone in the league right now. He puts the bat on the ball at an elite level. The Cubs are going to enjoy having someone like that in the mix. If each team’s return plays as well as they have in the past, each team will be happy with the return of this trade. Hopefully, the White Sox are able to make a deep run with Kimbrel.