*Photo from CBS Sports*
The Chicago White Sox don't just want the division, they want the world series. That showed at the trade deadline. The White Sox have acquired RHP Craig Kimbrel from the crosstown Chicago Cubs, in exchange for 2B Nick Madrigal and RHP Codi Heuer, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The trade has been confirmed.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn said of Kimbrel that "We view him as playing a key role here, obviously over the next few months getting us in position for the postseason. But come October, providing Tony and Ethan and Hasler with a variety of weapons at the back end to help shorten games."
Kimbrel's acquisition gives the White Sox a dangerous back end of the bullpen, with closer Liam Hendriks and Michael Kopech already in the fold. Manager Tony La Russa did tell Kimbrel that there was a plan in place to get Kimbrel and Hendriks equal opportunity in late inning usage. Kimbrel was also reportedly at the top of the White Sox wish list.
So far this season, Kimbrel is having a bounce back season for the ages as the Cubs closer, with a 2-3 record and a sterling 0.49 ERA in 39 relief appearances, totaling 36 2/3 innings. Kimbrel has struck out 64 hitters, and has 23 saves so far this season. In his 12 major league seasons, with 4 teams, Kimbrel has a 33-27 record with a 2.07 ERA in 622 games out of the bullpen, with 371 saves in that time.
Hahn said "My conversation with Craig earlier this afternoon was all about winning championships and playing a role in helping to put us in the strongest position to get him another ring, and to get some of the guys down in that clubhouse their first ring. We are better today than we were yesterday. We know that. We are better the end of this week than we were the end of last week."
The big piece of the return for the Cubs is the second baseman Madrigal, who, this season, has a .305 average and a .774 OPS in 54 games, hitting two homers and driving in 21 runs for the White Sox. The big issue with Madrigal is that he is currently out for the season after tearing his right hamstring. But, when healthy, he is a top flight second baseman, something the Cubs need.
The other piece of the return in Heuer, who, so far this season, has a 4-1 record in 40 relief appearances, with a 5.12 ERA in that time. Heuer has struck out 39 hitters as well, in 38 2/3 innings pitched. In two seasons with the White Sox, Heuer has a 7-1 record with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 64 hitters and picking up one save in 61 relief appearances, totaling 62 1/3 innings pitched.
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said of selling at the deadline that "At least to me, it was a very clear and obvious decision. We weren't able to reach extensions. So, we could either hold these players for two months and have them compete for a fourth-place team. Or, we could do everything we could in our power to reset our farm system, to reset our organization, and I think we accelerated that incredibly over the last 10 days or so."
This isn't the only trade made by the Cubs and White Sox at the deadline. Ryan Tepera was dealt to the White Sox in a separate trade, continuing a monster deadline for Chicago, who also traded for Cesar Hernandez from the Indians. The Cubs, meanwhile, sold their core for lots of prospects and starting caliber players in return, signaling the start of a rebuild.
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