It seems clear by now that Craig Kimbrel won’t be receiving the six-year, $100 million deal he was expecting in free agency. The Boston Red Sox are content to sit back and wait for the price to drop in a market where suitors haven’t been lining up for the top available closer when a number of suitable alternatives remain available.
Kimbrel may ultimately find his way back to Boston on the club’s terms when other viable options dry up. It makes no sense for a team to pay big money for a closer unless they expect to contend.