Craig Kimbrel - Signing

[Tony-OH]

4 minutes ago, HakunaSakata said:

Agreed, but in reality anyone signing Kimbrel would essentially be doing just that. His name/history alone is going to be enough to get him more dollars thana pitcher with a similar skill set. I'm more concerned with the future than I am the past so what he did in his 20's means very little to me. 

What he did in his 20s means nothing to no one, including Elias. Again, you refuse to tell us what in his stats from last year make you think he's just a name and not still very good? What, because he had two bad post season games? 

[interloper]

1 minute ago, Moose Milligan said:

Yep, I totally am.

I like Elias a lot, I'm a big Elias Fanboy.  But whenever he says something about what his plans are and it gets sliced and diced and analyzed every possible which-way on here, I think it's hilarious.  You guys were the kids playing Ozzy Osbourne records backwards in the 80s looking for hidden messages. 

He is an absolute master at saying things without saying anything at all.  It's fantastic and yes, I'm totally ignoring/not believing any of it.  That's not me calling him a liar, I just think he believes whatever he's saying "in the moment" and what he said last week or last month has no bearing on what he's thinking or doing today.

But he's been saying the same thing about upgrading the rotation since we got bounced in the playoffs. Nothing has really changed. He's reiterated it in every winter meetings interview, and there have been like 3 or 4 already. I think he will consider it a failure if he doesn't find a SP somewhere. 

That said - it's always smart to bury your expectations like 12 feet under a pile of dirt and trash and Orioles-related trauma, so I respect that.

[RZNJ]

3 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

How I see things assuming Kimbrel signs:

Bullpen:
Closer: Kimbrel (though others will get shots at times)
8th inning: Cano (depends on matchups) Wells could also get some play in this role depending on Cano
7th inning: Hall (depends on matchups)
Set up/Matchups: Coloumbe (LHP)
Set up/Matchups: Perez (LHP)
Set up/Matchups: Tate is healthy (Webb here if not)
Multi inning: Wells (RHP)
Multi Inning: Irvin (LHP) if he doesn't break as 5th starter.
Early starter implosion guy: Baumann/Webb/Baker/Akin

Rotation: (I'm hoping they add a top starter here)
1. Kyle Bradish
2. Grayson Rodriguez
3. John Means
4. Dean Kremer
5. (for now) Cole Irvin/Tyler Wells
 

 

Looks like you have a 9 man bullpen.  Better dump those implosion guys.

[Moose Milligan]

Just now, interloper said:

But he's been saying the same thing about upgrading the rotation since we got bounced in the playoffs. Nothing has really changed. He's reiterated it in every winter meetings interview, and there have been like 3 or 4 already. I think he will consider it a failure if he doesn't find a SP somewhere. 

That said - it's always smart to bury your expectations like 12 feet under a pile of dirt and trash and Orioles-related trauma, so I respect that.

Oh, he's said it multiple times!  Well then, that's a different story.

I'd love to be wrong, but I've been down this path before.  I'll believe it when I see it.

[RZNJ]

3 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

He actually only had two bad appearances in the NLCS where he lost two games back to back. He was actually very good the rest of the post season.

I’d still call two bad games out of five a poor post season.

[Safelykept]

1 hour ago, sportsfan8703 said:

He'll be a save rack.  It kind of comes with gig.  Our last two closers have made the ASG.  I expect Kimbrel will as well.  

Wells can go back to the rotation.  So that solves that hole.  I'm not worried about Kimbrel.  He's a good option for 162.  I worry about the RH setup men.  Cano, Baumann, Baker, and Webb.  Webb and Baumann are out of options.  

I could still see us making some bullpen moves.  Maybe signing David Robertson.  Stephenson would be huge, but too expensive likely.  Rule 5 guy later today.   Waiver claims.  maybe a small trade.  Urias/Mateo for an RH RP?  The Japanese reliver that we would essentially be buying a reliever for $2 million a year that has options.  Options are valuable.  Fuji reunion?  Lopez on a milb deal?  Then we'll just have to see how we look at the deadline.  

Wells stays in the Bp trade for another starter (Cease.)

[Tony-OH]

5 minutes ago, interloper said:

That's 9 bullpen arms though. That last implosion category is going to feature some tough cuts at the end of ST if everyone is healthy. 

Yes, the implosion guys are really the guys fighting for spots. I probably should have written that differently though right now, one of Irvin/Wells would need to be the 5th starter.

[HakunaSakata]

20 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

How can you look at his stats last year and his statcast data and determine that he's not "good". What do you not like? 

I hate his vulture stance before the pitch as well, but his stuff is still good and if the Orioles are getting him on a one or two year contract that reasonable I'm 100% on board in this.

Because I watched him temporarily lose his job to Jose Alvarado last season because he was so bad in April and May and then watched him implode again in August and the playoffs. I just don't think Kimbrel is a set it and forget it closer at this point in his career, and that would have been the only type of closer I would have ponied up for (either money wise or via a trade). Otherwise, I would have just focused more on signing a good bullpen arm will less closing experience. To me the closing experience part isn't that important, but I guess Elias is of a different mindset. 

[24fps]

6 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

How I see things assuming Kimbrel signs:

Bullpen:
Closer: Kimbrel (though others will get shots at times)
8th inning: Cano (depends on matchups) Wells could also get some play in this role depending on Cano
7th inning: Hall (depends on matchups)
Set up/Matchups: Coloumbe (LHP)
Set up/Matchups: Perez (LHP)
Set up/Matchups: Tate is healthy (Webb here if not)
Multi inning: Wells (RHP)
Multi Inning: Irvin (LHP) if he doesn't break as 5th starter.
Early starter implosion guy: Baumann/Webb/Baker/Akin

Rotation: (I'm hoping they add a top starter here)
1. Kyle Bradish
2. Grayson Rodriguez
3. John Means
4. Dean Kremer
5. (for now) Cole Irvin/Tyler Wells
 

 

Get another good starter (Cease or similar) and this would be a pretty good pitching staff.  I would be happy to start the season with this setup.

[Tony-OH]

2 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I’d still call two bad games out of five a poor post season.

I won't argue that, just stating that it was two poor outings, not that he looked bad the entire post season. 

[RZNJ]

7 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

Yep, I totally am.

I like Elias a lot, I'm a big Elias Fanboy.  But whenever he says something about what his plans are and it gets sliced and diced and analyzed every possible which-way on here, I think it's hilarious.  You guys were the kids playing Ozzy Osbourne records backwards in the 80s looking for hidden messages. 

He is an absolute master at saying things without saying anything at all.  It's fantastic and yes, I'm totally ignoring/not believing any of it.  That's not me calling him a liar, I just think he believes whatever he's saying "in the moment" and what he said last week or last month has no bearing on what he's thinking or doing today.

He said he wanted a back end reliever.  Looks like we’re getting Kimbrel.  One down.  One to go.

[HakunaSakata]

2 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I’d still call two bad games out of five a poor post season.

I would as well. The lengths folks are going to manipulate data to hide Kimbrel's warts is wild! 

[wildcard]

(8) Kimbrel, Cano, Hall, Perez, Coulombe, Baumann, Tate, Irvin

Webb kept through ST in case of injuries.  Then DFA'd and traded for prospect or if he passed through waiver outrighted to AAA.

Edited December 6, 2023 by wildcard

[Safelykept]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

For the life of me I don't understand why people don't like this signing.

He's got a plus fastball and curveball. He can miss bats (12.3 K/9). He's got a ton of playoff experience,

Neither lefties or righties hit him very well:
RHB: .179/.253/.359/.612
LHB: .184/.302/.306/.608

Last year he allowed too many homers (11) but only 7 would have been out of Camden Yards. 

I think people are being influenced by two bad outings in the NLCS.

Personally I think he will be great addition to the bullpen, even at 36-years old. 

I will even get used to his stupid vulture pre-pitch stance!

 

Agree 100% another classic Elias signing Not only upgrades the BP but adds depth.

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, HakunaSakata said:

Because I watched him temporarily lose his job to Jose Alvarado last season because he was so bad in April and May and then watched him implode again in August and the playoffs. I just don't think Kimbrel is a set it and forget it closer at this point in his career, and that would have been the only type of closer I would have ponied up for (either money wise or via a trade). Otherwise, I would have just focused more on signing a good bullpen arm will less closing experience. To me the closing experience part isn't that important, but I guess Elias is of a different mindset. 

Is Jordan Hicks a shut down closer?   How can you say all this stuff and then say you wanted Jordan Hicks?