Braves: 3 free agents Atlanta absolutely must stay away from

By Tim Boyle | Nov 9, 2022

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 5: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on October 5, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was his second home run of the game. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

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The Atlanta Braves should stay away from free agent Craig Kimbrel. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. Braves should stay far away from a Craig Kimbrel reunion

Before the Braves signed Kenley Jansen last offseason, Craig Kimbrel was a possibility. He was with the Chicago White Sox prior to getting traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for AJ Pollock. The deal didn’t work particularly well for either ball club. Kimbrel is a free agent again. Atlanta shouldn’t care.

Kimbrel established himself as a future Hall of Fame player during his five seasons in Atlanta. His outstanding numbers there, which include a 1.43 ERA and 186 saves in 289 innings, remain remarkable. What he has done since isn’t quite the same.

Kimbrel was 6-7 with a 3.75 ERA for the Dodgers last year. They had questions about him in the closer role often. It wasn’t just one bad appearance at the end that made his numbers dive into a dumpster.

This is the pitcher Kimbrel has been for several years now. He’s a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re going to get.

Kimbrel posted ERAs of 6.53, 5.28, and 0.49 during three seasons with the Chicago Cubs albeit all in smaller sample sizes. When he was traded to the White Sox in the middle of 2021 with a 0.49 ERA, he turned back into a pumpkin. He had a 5.09 ERA for the White Sox.

Atlanta already has a quality closer candidate in Raisel Iglesias. Kimbrel, despite the down year, will not be a bargain. Back away from the nostalgia.

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