MLB Rumors: Craig Kimbrel Won't Get Long-Term Contract From Boston Red Sox In 2019 Free Agency

The door appears to be open for a reunion between Craig Kimbrel and the Boston Red Sox this offseason: it just won’t happen for the money the reliever is seeking.

The top closer in free agency is still available nearly three months after helping Boston win the 2018 World Series. He reportedly entered the winter with hopes of signing a six-year, nine-figure contract, but no team has made him such an offer.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been adamant that the team won’t give a lucrative, long-term deal to a closer.

“Sometimes, you have to evaluate where you’re going to spend your dollars,” Dombrowski said Thursday, via MassLive.com. “We decided to keep back the rest of the core of the club. We like our team a great deal and we think some of the guys internally can do the job. Can we get better? Perhaps. But we’ll see what takes place.”

The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly shown interest in Kimbrel, but they might not commit several years to him after signing David Robertson. The seeming lack of interest around the league in even giving Kimbrel a four or five-year deal has sparked speculation that he could return to Boston on a shorter contract.

Boston didn’t budge in their pursuit of J.D. Martinez last offseason when they offered him five years at over a little more than $100 million. The DH joined the Red Sox when he couldn’t get a better contract. Boston and Kimbrel could find themselves in a similar situation.

Zach Britton has received the highest average salary of any reliever in free agency this season at $13 million per year with the New York Yankees. He returns to a bullpen anchored by closer Aroldis Chapman, who makes an average of $17.2 million per season.

Maybe Kimbrel could land a three-year contract worth around $50 million with Boston. A one-year contract for a similar yearly salary could be an option, as well.

After winning 108 games and a championship with the league’s highest payroll last season, the Red Sox seem determined not to spend a ton of money.

Nathan Eovaldi was Boston’s one notable signing this season. The pitcher agreed to a four-year, $68 million contract.

The Red Sox have lost reliever Joe Kelly, who signed received $25 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Boston has $232.2 million committed in players’ salaries for the 2019 MLB season.