MLB: 5 best free agents who aren't Bryce Harper or Manny Machado

MLB: 5 best free agents who aren’t Bryce Harper or Manny Machado

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox delivers the pitch during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 1: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after pitching the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on May 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel is far and away the best relief pitcher of the 2019 free agent class, and he’s still on the board. Throughout his career, he’s been of the most dominant closers in the league. He’s a seven-time all-star, four-time NL saves leader and a World Series Champion.

With a resume like that, the numbers are about what you’d expect. He boasts a career 1.91 ERA with a 0.995 WHIP while amassing 333 saves over 532 2/3 innings pitched. Perhaps his most impressive stat, though, is his career strikeout rate of 14.7 per nine innings pitched.

Kimbrel will turn 31 in May. And, as with any pitcher in their thirties, teams will want to make sure durability isn’t a concern. It shouldn’t be with Kimbrel, as he pitched 62 1/3 innings last season while recording 42 saves.

His postseason struggles last year shouldn’t deter interest in Kimbrel, either. It’s entirely normal for relief pitchers to show signs of wear and tear at the end of the year. Every team deals with it.

Next. Angels fans should hope the Phillies sign Bryce Harper. dark

The question now is who will pony up the money it’s going to take to get him. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark reported back in December that Kimbrel was looking to get a multi-year, nine-figure deal. Frankly, it’s hard to see that happening. No matter how good he’s been, it’s just too big of a risk to give that sort of mega-deal to a relief pitcher on the wrong side of 30.

Even if he doesn’t get the $100 million he’s after, he should still end up fetching a hefty sum. And of everyone on this list, Kimbrel seems like the most likely to re-sign with his previous team. The Red Sox were pretty much the best team in baseball from day one of last year, and they stayed hot all the way until the end when they won the World Series. It would come as no surprise to see them lock up the all-star closer while their championship window is still wide open.

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