Let me get that right out of the way—I think the Red Sox should’ve paid both players. Both of them were integral parts of a 108-win juggernaut that steamrolled through the playoffs en route to a World Series title.
But this is what Dave Dombrowski is getting paid to do—keep the Red Sox contending. His latest move was to sign starter Nathan Eovaldi to a four-year, $68 million deal. But he paid the wrong player. That contract should’ve gone to Craig Kimbrel.
The bullpen was the cause of major concern in Boston throughout the regular season. Sports media and radio show hosts constantly bickered about what the Red Sox would do with their pen. The argument was ‘well they have a shutdown closer in Kimbrel, but how are you going to get to him?’
The bullpen struggled mightily in August and September, and even Kimbrel was not immune. But he figured it out come September, and despite giving up runs in multiple outings, was able to lock down every save situation he was brought into and never lost a game. This included a six out save in a wild Game 4 against the Houston Astros.
Meanwhile, Eovaldi was the direct opposite. The right-hander was relatively pedestrian throughout the regular season with Boston, having just a few good starts against the New York Yankees and one against the Minnesota Twins.
Come the playoffs, the Sox headed into the Bronx for a pivotal Game 3 and the entire fate of the Red Sox resting on Eovaldi’s shoulders. He delivered, shutting down the Yankees and following it up with stellar performances against the Astros and three filthy relief outings against the Dodgers in the World Series.
Playoff success aside, the Red Sox just paid $17 million a year to a starter who underwent two Tommy John surgeries. Meanwhile, Kimbrel amassed 108 saves in three years with the Sox, his save totals increasing every year. He’s been an All-Star every year and is an unquestioned top three closer in the MLB with Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen. All three have sustained success, therefore making them more bonafide options than upstarts like Edwin Diaz and Blake Treinen.
People can argue that Eovaldi can become the closer, but it seems like a waste to have a pitcher who throws 102 mph stuck in the bullpen instead of throwing fire for seven innings. Kimbrel has shown a bigger body of work, and the disparity between the two is entirely based on recency bias. Red Sox fans and the rest of the league saw how each performed in the playoffs, but don’t get it twisted—Kimbrel would’ve been paid the second most dollars for a reliever in the league, and he would’ve taken it even though it wasn’t a six-year deal.
The Sox are rumored to be in on David Robertson and Adam Ottavino. Robertson would be nice, but I would have been much more satisfied if the Sox signed Robertson, Kelly, and Kimbrel instead of spending major dollars on an at-best third starter coming off two major surgeries.
