The Cubs and Craig Kimbrel have agreed to a deal and according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal it’s a three-year contract worth close to $45 million.
That would put Kimbrel’s average annual value as the fourth highest in MLB among closers. Wade Davis is making an average of $17.33 million per year followed by Aroldis Chapman at $17.2 million and Kenley Jansen is at $16 million per season.
Kimbrel saved 42 games for the Red Sox in 2018. The right-hander has a 1.91 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 533.2 innings. He’s saved at least 31 games since his first full year in the big leagues in 2011. Kimbrel set a career high in 2013, when he recorded 50 saves.
UPDATE
According to Jon Morosi, it’s $43 million over three years.
That’s an average annual value of $14.33 million.
Here’s the year by year break down.
