3 teams that need to make a trade with Cubs for Craig Kimbrel

Adding Craig Kimbrel could make the Houston Astros the favorites in the AL

Along with the Athletics, the other team most notably tied to adding Kimbrel at the trade deadline is the AL West-leading Houston Astros. They have the best record in the AL West with a 3.5-game lead over Oakland. The Astros are tied for the second-best record in the American League with the Boston Red Sox and are only percentage points back of the Chicago White Sox.

As with Oakland, Houstons’ bullpen is already solid. They have a closer they trust in Ryan Pressly. However, adding an arm like Kimbrel is about shortening a game even more. It makes sense for the Cubs to trade him to an American League team in the final months of his contract, as well as being able to recoup whatever they can to help rebuild their farm system down the line.

Of course, adding Kimbrel is all about ensuring Oakland does not get him instead. Houston feels like a postseason lock, but the Astros want to avoid the AL Wild Card Game altogether if they can. Trading for a player of Kimbrel’s caliber should get Houston back to the ALCS. For as much the baseball world would hate it, he may be the piece that gets the Astros back into the World Series.

Overall, there are plenty of other teams who could be interested in adding Kimbrel. A few of those teams include the Red Sox, the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres. However, the Astros and the Athletics are the early front-runners to get him, while a Braves reunion is too intriguing of a dark horse for us to cross Atlanta off entirely. Expect for Kimbrel to head West later this month.

What teams must move heaven and earth to trade for Kimbrel in a deal with the Cubs in late July?