One MLB Team Stands Out With Biggest Need to Sign Craig Kimbrel

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Now about 50 games into the 2019 MLB season, the dust is starting to clear when it comes to proper suitors for the services of closer Craig Kimbrel. While he could be a difference maker for a potential World Series team, he could also fix the bullpen issues that seem to be plaguing a lot of clubs.

One, in particular, is the Washington Nationals. A team that seemingly revolves around their pitching staff, led by a trifecta of aces in Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg, is dead last in bullpen ERA.

Worst bullpen ERA
30. Nationals 6.89
29. Baltimore 6.01
28. Detroit 5.68
27. Seattle 5.54
26. Miami 5.03
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 23, 2019

The bottom five bullpens, when it comes to ERA, are a bunch of teams at or near the bottom of their respective divisions, and then there's the underachieving Nationals. Prior to the season, the Nats were in the conversation to win the NL Pennant, but they've started out 19-30 this season.

Imagine what a difference Kimbrel could make. His career 1.91 ERA and 333 saves could essentially remake the back end of the Nationals' bullpen.

The Nationals are 10 games under .500, have playoff odds of 33%, and are trying to close out games using guys like Mark Grace and Tanner Rainey and Wander Suero while Craig Kimbrel sits unemployed.
— Jon Tayler, Smiling Politely (@JATayler) May 22, 2019

With Kimbrel in the ninth, the team's current closer, Sean Doolittle, would likely slide up an inning, causing a potential positive domino effect. Doolittle has a respectable 3.43 ERA with eight saves in 10 opportunities, and that includes a four-run meltdown last night.

Doolittle has amazingly only given up eight runs on the season, despite the Nationals' combined bullpen ERA of 6.89.

The Nationals' rotation ERA is 3.92, their bullpen ERA is 6.89. Today is Washington's 50th game. ELIAS: Should the numbers hold thru Game 50 today, it would be the largest negative rotation/'pen difference since '97 Royals - a 3.09 diff, 3.76 for starters, 6.85 for relievers.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 23, 2019

When your bullpen is flirting with history (the worst bullpen ERA over a full season is the 1930 Philadelphia Phillies at 8.03), it might be time to add one of the best closers in the game.

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