Chicago White Sox: 3 insane Craig Kimbrel trades with New York Mets
When the Chicago White Sox dealt for Craig Kimbrel at the trade deadline and it looked like they had the scariest back end of the bullpen in all of baseball. Things didn’t work out as planned.
The White Sox gave up two solid young pieces in the deal. The team traded 2B Nick Madrigal and right-handed relief pitcher, Codi Heuer, in return for Kimbrel and it is going to work out quite well for the Cubs.
Kimbrel pitched exceptionally well on the north side of Chicago. In 36.2 innings pitched, he totaled 23 saves, a 0.49 ERA, and 0.71 WHIP while striking out 64 batters and only allowing two earned runs. On the Southside, things were opposite. In 23 innings, he totaled one save while accumulating a 5.09 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while striking out 36 batters and allowing 13 earned runs.
One of the biggest strengths on paper for the White Sox even heading into the 2022 season will be the bullpen. With Kimbrel still on the roster, the White Sox have an incredibly deep bullpen with the likes of Garrett Crochet, Aaron Bummer, Kendall Graveman, and Liam Hendriks.
Trading Craig Kimbrel might be a good idea for the Chicago White Sox.
Kimbrel will likely be moved, and there should be a multitude of suitors as back-end bullpen help is always a necessity.
One team that may need back-end bullpen help is the New York Mets. The team just lost Aaron Loup to the Los Angeles Angels and there are doubts whether Edwin Diaz is the best choice to close out games for them.
The Mets are in win-now mode, especially after their recent free-agent acquisitions, and may look to add as much talent to their roster for the immediate future.
The Chicago White Sox could consider a one-for-one Craig Kimbrel trade.
Although it could be a long shot, a deal that could make sense for both sides would be a trade for shortstop Ronny Mauricio. The White Sox could look to orchestrate a one-for-one trade and receive Mauricio in return for Craig Kimbrel and could pay a portion of Kimbrel’s salary to attempt to sway the Mets in this deal.
The Mets have made some additions in the outfield that will allow 2B/OF Jeff McNeil to remain at second base and put their recent acquisition of Eduardo Escobar back at his regular position at third base.
That leaves little room in the infield for Mauricio, especially during the 2022 season. His athleticism, defense, and plus-arm could play well at second base and allow him to be a plus defender on the opposite side of the bag. Mauricio is a 6’3″ switch hitter and is only 20 years old.
In 2021, he played 108 games between two levels. He struggled in his 100 games in A+ ball. In his eight games at the AA level, he played exceptionally well. He slashed .323/.364/.452 in AA ball, and a change of scenery could play well for him, especially with second base wide open for the White Sox. It may take a bit more to sway the Mets into this deal but both sides would be adding necessary pieces that could benefit them immediately in 2022.
The Chicago White Sox could look for players in positions of need going forward.
Another potential deal that could be swung between the White Sox and Mets that could be beneficial to both sides could look like this:
White Sox receive OF Nick Plummer and 2B/OF Carlos Cortes.
Mets receive RHP Craig Kimbrel.
Plummer and Cortes are both left-handed bats that aren’t far away from the MLB level. With the recent acquisitions made via free agency by the Mets, it looks like there may not be adequate playing time available for the two to make an impact on the MLB team.
Plummer is the Mets’ ninth-best prospect and playing in both AA and AAA in 2021, he slashed .280/.415/.479 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs. He is capable of playing all three outfield positions and has above-average speed.
What is most intriguing about Plummer is that he has shown the ability to get on base, which fits right into the White Sox lineup. He also adds a left-handed bat to a very right-handed White Sox lineup.
Cortes ranks as the Mets’ eleventh best prospect. In 2021, he slashed .257/.332/.487 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs at the AA level. He doesn’t strike out often and that can play well in the White Sox aggressive lineup. His bat will carry him into some playing time heading into 2022 and the fit is there.
The Chicago White Sox could land multiple prospects for Craig Kimbrel.
Another deal the White Sox and Mets could swing could help the White Sox bolster their farm system with guys that won’t immediately make an impact could look like this:
White Sox receive LHP Josh Walker, LHP Thomas Szapucki, and RHP Eric Orze.
Mets receive RHP Craig Kimbrel.
Walker is ranked as the Mets’ seventeenth best prospect and has struggled at times in the minors. He has accumulated a 4.21 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 50 games and 27 starts. He is 27 but he throws strikes and could provide rotation depth or turn into a long reliever out of the bullpen. If he works with Ethan Katz, he could address some of the issues that have kept him in the minors for the last four years.
Szapucki is ranked as the Mets’ twentieth best prospect and struggled in his one appearance with the Mets in 2021. Over his time in the minors, he has accumulated a 2.80 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He is only 25 and if he works with Katz for a short while, he may be able to tap into some of the potential he has shown and become a solid back end of the rotation pitcher.
Ozre was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB draft and ranks as the Mets’ twenty-sixth best prospect. He wasn’t able to play in the minors in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic but moved quickly up the ranks in 2021. He started the year in A+ ball and ended the year in AAA.
He is a relief pitcher similar to Codi Heuer in terms of moving up quickly and being dominant in his short time in the minors. He has plus stuff that could be of help to the White Sox bullpen. In 34 games, he totaled 49.2 innings pitched, 67 strikeouts, a 3.05 ERA, and a 1.05 WHIP.
He also held opposing batters to a .209 batting average and has a solid pitch mix, throwing a mid 90s fastball, an average slider, and a dominant low 80s splitter.
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