RHP Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel is in a similar boat to Chapman, as he is not getting any younger. Kimbrel will also turn 37 next season, just three months after Chapman does and his career also appears to be heading off a cliff after an All-Star 2023 season.
In 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Kimbrel had a 3.26 ERA, 132 ERA+ (100 being average), and 1.043 WHIP, solid numbers that earned Kimbrel a one year, $12 million contract with a club option for 2025 and a $1 million buyout with the Baltimore Orioles to fill in for their injured closer Felix Bautista.
Fast forward to September of 2024 and Kimbrel is being released by the Baltimore Orioles before the season is even over. Kimbrel appeared in 57 games for the Orioles in 2024 to the tune of a 5.33 ERA, 71 ERA+ (100 being average) and 1.357 WHIP. There is a strong case to make that his age and all of those innings on Kimbrel's arm finally caught up with him.
Kimbrel was given 29 opportunities to save the game for the Orioles and converted 23 of them, 79.3 percent of his chances, not exactly a number that induces the type of confidence you want to have in a late game relief pitcher. For comparison, Devin Williams was 14 for 15 (93.3 percent) on his opportunities after returning from a back injury that cost him half of the 2024 season.
While Kimbrel's price has certainly tanked due to his terrible 2024 season, a soon to be 37 year old high leverage relief pitcher is not the ideal candidate for a bounce back type deal for Milwaukee. The Brewers should let someone else fall on that grenade.