Three days after being freed of the penalties that come with being offered and declining the qualifying offer, Craig Kimbrel signed a three-year, $45 million deal with a $22 million vesting option with the Cubs. Kimbrel is the best relief pitcher the Cubs have ever had and will bolster their bullpen during the playoff stretch, if not immediately.
This is an enormous missed opportunity for the Sox. The bullpen was a glaring weakness coming into spring, but has tread water thanks to the emergence of Marcus Walden and some good performances by Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.