Craig Kimbrel is a perfect Chicago White Sox trade chip

The Chicago White Sox are a good baseball team. They went 93-69 in 2021 which was good enough for a Central Division crown. It was the first division win for the White Sox since 2008 and their first time ever making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. With a roster like they have, they are in good shape.

With that in mind, the roster isn’t good enough because they didn’t win the World Series. In fact, they got destroyed by the World Series runner up which shows that they are still a few steps away. More experience will surely help but some more players would go a long way.

There is free agency but you never know how that goes. Trades are probably the best way (right now) for the White Sox to improve in the immediate future. Craig Kimbrel is probably the best trade chip that the White Sox have right now.

Kimbrel was an awesome 9th inning closer in 2021. Unfortunately, the White Sox didn’t use him much in that role because Liam Hendriks is probably the best reliever in the game. Kimbrel was bumped to the 8th inning where he struggled mightily. As a result, there is a good chance that he will be traded to an elite team that needs a closer.

The Chicago White Sox could make Craig Kimbrel a great trade chip right now.

There are a lot of teams that fit that mold. He would pick up a ball and be someone’s closer at an elite level if he gets the opportunity in 2022. The White Sox have an opportunity to help him out there if they aren’t going to use him in that role.

A good player would probably come to the White Sox if they sent Kimbrel away. He is one of the greatest closers who ever lived and has tons of playoff experience. Teams might give the White Sox a position of need in this type of deal.

There is also the unlikely possibility that the White Sox don’t trade him. They could try the 8th inning thing again from the start of the year to see if that helps him or try the duel closer strategy. Either way, you can only hope that the White Sox are a better team as a result of the Kimbrel story.