MLB rumors: Red Sox’s Craig Kimbrel the ‘best all-time’ closer? Not even close

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel is a free agent. Will he return to the defending World Series champions for 2019? His agent is making a case that Kimbrel is the best closer of all-time, even better than New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera.

OK, Yankees fans. Buckle up.

The agent for free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel is giving potential suitors a hard sell on the right-hander, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman:

Agent Dave Meter has a fairly straightforward pitch on client Craig Kimbrel. Points out Meter: He’s the best alltime, not just recently but alltime. Lowest ERA, lowest batting average against, lowest OPS against. Also points out he saved all his chances even this postseason.

Let’s take a deep breath and look at this from an analytical perspective.

Yes, the 30-year-old Kimbrel has 333 career saves in nine seasons. Yes, his career ERA is 1.91. Yes’s, he’s a seven-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year.

But there’s no way he should be considered better than former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, when you take into account postseason performance.

Kimbrel was a nightmare for the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 playoffs. Sure, he was a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities. But he gave up seven earned runs in 10.2 innings pitched. That’s a 5.90 ERA! You could almost say the Red Sox won the World Series in spite of Kimbrel.

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Rivera, who is the all-time saves leader with 652, the owner of a 2.21 ERA over 19 MLB seasons and a 14-time All-Star, always took his game to another level in the postseason.

In 96 playoff appearances, Rivera had a 0.70 ERA and 42 saves. Oh, and five World Series rings, including MVP of the 1999 Fall Classic.

Is Kimbrel a great closer? Absolutely. Best in the game today? Perhaps. Will he get paid more than current Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (five years, $86 million)? Possibly. Best of all-time? Not even close.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.