All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel has been traded for the second time in the year 2015, as the San Diego Padres dealt him to the Boston Red Sox on Friday for four prospects. The move is the first of what is expected to be many in the off-season for the Dave Dombrowski-led Red Sox, who have three last place finishes in the last four years.
Dombrowski has gotten his name from making big time moves, most notably while holding the job in the Detroit Tigers' front office. He has made trades to acquire big-time names, including Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer and David Price. He has also been involved with deals involving big-name pitchers like Johan Santana and Randy Johnson.
We can now add the 27-year-old Kimbrel to that list as he gets his first taste of the American League. The reliever says he cannot wait for the challenge of moving to the league that "has the big bats."
Dombrowski was excited about the move to begin the winter dealing, especially that they did not have to get rid of anyone from the major league level.
The four prospects that were sent to San Diego were outfielders Manuel Margot, infielders Javier Guerra, Carlos Asuaje and pitcher Logan Allen. Only two of those four, Margot and Asuaje, made it to the Double-A level.
Kimbrel spent the first five years of his career with the Atlanta Braves before being dealt on the eve of the 2015 campaign. He made 61 appearance for the Padres, going 39/43 in saves, and posting a record of 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA, to go along with 57 strikeouts in 59.1 inning pitched.
To the surprise of many around the baseball world, Kimbrel has already worn three different uniforms since making his major league debut in 2010. Despite that, he will look to make his impact from the bullpen in Fenway Park, as he moves Koji Uehara to the eighth inning role and Junichi Tazawa to the seventh.
The Red Sox made the move to hire Dombrowski last season with the 2016 season in mind, as the former AL East powerhouse looks to get the rebuilding going to get themselves back to the top of the division. Their new GM has struck, and the scary part for the baseball world is: he's only getting started.
Dombrowski has gotten his name from making big time moves, most notably while holding the job in the Detroit Tigers' front office. He has made trades to acquire big-time names, including Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer and David Price. He has also been involved with deals involving big-name pitchers like Johan Santana and Randy Johnson.
We can now add the 27-year-old Kimbrel to that list as he gets his first taste of the American League. The reliever says he cannot wait for the challenge of moving to the league that "has the big bats."
Dombrowski was excited about the move to begin the winter dealing, especially that they did not have to get rid of anyone from the major league level.
The four prospects that were sent to San Diego were outfielders Manuel Margot, infielders Javier Guerra, Carlos Asuaje and pitcher Logan Allen. Only two of those four, Margot and Asuaje, made it to the Double-A level.
Kimbrel spent the first five years of his career with the Atlanta Braves before being dealt on the eve of the 2015 campaign. He made 61 appearance for the Padres, going 39/43 in saves, and posting a record of 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA, to go along with 57 strikeouts in 59.1 inning pitched.
To the surprise of many around the baseball world, Kimbrel has already worn three different uniforms since making his major league debut in 2010. Despite that, he will look to make his impact from the bullpen in Fenway Park, as he moves Koji Uehara to the eighth inning role and Junichi Tazawa to the seventh.
The Red Sox made the move to hire Dombrowski last season with the 2016 season in mind, as the former AL East powerhouse looks to get the rebuilding going to get themselves back to the top of the division. Their new GM has struck, and the scary part for the baseball world is: he's only getting started.
