The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox swapped veteran outfielder AJ Pollock and veteran nearer Craig Kimbrel on Friday, a uncommon one-for-one commerce — with no cash exchanged — that cleared up uncertainties for 2 championship contenders.
From the Dodgers’ perspective, the deal frees up extra enjoying time for the younger, promising Gavin Lux, who was left and not using a outlined position within the wake of the Freddie Freeman signing. Kimbrel, in the meantime, would slot in because the nearer, permitting Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts to be extra versatile along with his utilization of Blake Treinen.
The White Sox had been seeking to commerce Kimbrel ever since exercising their $16 million choice on him for 2022, on condition that Liam Hendriks is entrenched as their nearer. Their bullpen depth — that includes Aaron Bummer and veteran additions Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly — allowed them to commerce Kimbrel in an effort to plug a gap of their outfield. However the Kimbrel commerce got here on the identical day that one in all their finest relievers, lefty Garrett Crochet, discovered he’ll possible require season-ending elbow surgical procedure.
Pollock, who will make $10 million in 2022 and carries a $10 million participant choice for 2023, will possible slide in because the White Sox proper fielder, prompting Eloy Jimenez to stay in left and Andrew Vaughn to fit in because the designated hitter, additional solidifying what was already a potent lineup. The left-handed-hitting Gavin Sheets additionally figures to be within the combine, with Chicago probably rotating all 4 of these gamers by way of three spots.
The Dodgers checked in on Kimbrel earlier than final summer time’s commerce deadline however had been hesitant to amass him given the presence of Kenley Jansen. Kimbrel now fills the ninth-inning void that was left when Jansen signed with the Atlanta Braves, permitting the remainder of their relievers to maneuver again a spot. Forward of Kimbrel, the Dodgers can deploy Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Alex Vesia and Victor Gonzalez, with the likes of Tommy Kahnle, Phil Bickford and Dustin May slated to turn out to be accessible at varied factors all through the season.
Kimbrel, 33, has been among the many finest closers within the sport for the higher a part of a decade, compiling 371 saves and a 2.24 ERA from 2011 to 2021. After fighting the Chicago Cubs from 2019 to 2020, Kimbrel dominated by way of the primary 4 months of 2021, permitting solely two earned runs and hanging out 64 batters in 36⅔ innings. In a non-closing position with the White Sox, nonetheless, Kimbrel’s ERA ballooned to five.09 in 24 regular-season appearances.
Pollock, 34, batted .282/.337/.519 with 52 residence runs and 150 RBIs in 258 video games for the Dodgers from 2019 to 2021. The previous All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner caught some criticism for his early postseason struggles, however he turned that round with a .933 OPS in October 2021.
In a separate transfer, the White Sox agreed to phrases on a one-year, $7.45 million contract with right-hander Lucas Giolito, avoiding arbitration. Giolito, 26, went 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 begins final season, his fifth with Chicago.
