White Sox swap Kimbrel for AJ Pollock

[Danchat]

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

20 minutes ago, Danchat said:

 

 

Dang, that looks like a good swap for the White Sox. As good as Kimbrel can be, he is just a 1 inning reliever. For the same money/commitment, the White Sox now get an average to above-average outfielder.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I busted this out into its own topic, since it seems like a fairly big Twins-adjacent move.

I know the Kimbrel acquisition was criticized by many — does this news shift anyone’s opinion?

[Cap'n Piranha]

There's some additional risk to this move, with the news that Crochet probably needs TJ--all of the sudden, the Sox bullpen which looked like a terrifying group has some cracks.  Hendriks should still be great at worst, but there were some cracks last year (jump in HR rate, huge jump in strand rate, career low bb%, jump in hard hit rate)--when combined with an almost 2 MPH increase in FB velo, despite being 32, and there's some real downside risk.  Both Graveman and Bummer profile more as good/great options rather than elite ones.  Don't get me wrong, I'd still take any of those 3 ahead of any Twins reliever not named Rogers, but a slide in production from one guy, and an injury to another, and all of the sudden the Sox have only 2 proven options in the pen.

[big dog]

I think they'd rather have Nick Madrigal, now that Kimbrel helped them do nothing whatsoever in the playoffs. Pollock is a good player on the down slope, Madrigal a potentially very good player on the rise.

[Dman]

I think Pollock is a good addition for the White Sox. Jiminez isn't the greatest defender in left field but his bat is crazy good.  Getting him more time at DH and getting a better defender in Pollak is something Chicago could use.  An outfield of Luis Robert, Adam Engal and Pollack would be a good defensive outfield and decent at the plate as well.  Jiminez can still play left as well I just think this trade gives Chicago more quality depth in the outfield and makes them stronger overall.  That is as long as their thinning bullpen stays healthy.  Still it is probably easier to pickup bullpen help than above average outfield help during the season.

That being said they gave up a lot to get their shot at moving on in the playoffs and since it didn't work that has to sting a little bit.  Still they have a rock solid team right now as long as guys stay healthy they look like the best team in the central to me. 

I don't think this move hurts them but more likely helps them in the end, but will have to wait and see if Kimbrel is good to great or a bust this year.

 

[mikelink45]

Getting rid of Kimbrel made this a trade by itself.  Getting Pollock just reinforces a good team.  At this point I think the Sox win. 

[tony&rodney]

Pollack might make the ChiSox better in the field and and maybe a little bit offensively but I like the Twins chances against the reliever that takes Kimbrel's roster spot much better. Good trade for Chicago and for the Twins.

[big dog]

Putting Pollock in for Eloy also reduces at-bats for Andrew Vaughn. That's a good thing too, I think. He will definitely help their defense, but the hole in bullpen (sounds like one of their other guys is on his way to TJ surgery as of last night, too) and the potential loss of offense makes this interesting to me rather than terrifying.

[Otto von Ballpark]

FWIW, Kimbrel was already a hole in the White Sox bullpen last year (and in the Cubs pen 2019-2020). He’s got talent but the White Sox coaching staff had a hard time getting that talent to come through. Let’s not underestimate the risk there.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Before this trade, the White Sox were projected to have Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets both in their starting lineup, one in an outfield corner and the other at DH, with Adam Engel backing them up, then Leury Garcia (who is also their primary backup all around the infield, I think). Pollock raises the floor of their lineup considerably.

On the bullpen side, even without Kimbrel (and with Crochet out), they still have Hendriks, Graveman and Bummer who were strong performers last year; Ruiz and Burr, who were competent; plus Joe Kelly is on track to join the team later this month. And their starting rotation is pretty deep (and may provide an overflow starter for the pen).

And last summer, in addition to the Kimbrel trade, they made an affordable deal for Ryan Tepera, so they have shown some ability and willingness to upgrade the pen in-season.

[TopGunn#22]

This is actually a good trade for BOTH the White Sox and the Dodgers but of course, both teams are risking a lot as well.  White Sox get a solid bat and glove in LF'er Pollack who just has to stay healthy and give the Sox 500 AB's.  With Kenley Jansen moving on to the Braves the Dodgers surely weren't going to entrust "closing" to Blake Treinen exclusively.  I actually thought Graterol would get some chances.  Kimbrel has a strong track record and if he's anything close to last year it's a GREAT pickup for the Dodgers.  The risk is which Kimbrel they get...2021 or the abyss of 2019-2020 ??  The opportunity this presents Gavin Lux to play steadily in LF and 2B is the hidden bonus for L.A.  I think Lux breaks out this year and this could work out tremendously for the Dodgers.  

[Doctor Gast]

This is a small move but could have some pretty big rewards. Like ToppGunn said moving Pollack moves Taylor off 2B to the OF giving Lux more time at 2B. They must think they can do something with Kimbrel and use as insurance in their already deep BP.

Kimbrel has been dead weight in a very good BP at CWS which they can easily fill. Pollack adds much needed depth especially in defense in the OF.

Both add depth which in the long run would add a ton of wins by not back pedalling and try to improvize on the fly which is a recipe for disaster. Many serious teams are making these little trades right now to better their teams, why aren't the Twins. We have many redundant players that won't make any impact now or in the future that we can use in these type of trades. We have a deep chasm between Buxton and his sub for years which has cost us a ton of games. Let's close that gap and trade for a for real CF back up and compete this year.