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Minnesota Twins rumors: Twins making Craig Kimbrel ‘a priority’

By Chris Schad |
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning in Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning in Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Twins are being aggressive in their pursuit for pitching help by reaching out and making closer Craig Kimbrel a priority.

As the Minnesota Twins head into the middle months of the season, they are poised to be buyers for the first time in a long time. While this scenario has led to disappointment throughout the Twins’ 2000s run toward the top of the American League Central, Minnesota appears to be serious about adding pieces this time to help the team not just make the playoffs, but make a deep run.

According to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, one name that the Twins are reaching out to is closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel has remained on the free agent market through the first two months of the season as he looks for a multi-year deal, but his market has heated up now that he is no longer tied to draft pick compensation.

For what it’s worth, the Twins seem very interested in Kimbrel’s services as Sherman believes that the Twins have made the 31-year old “a priority” over the next couple of weeks.

Kimbrel would add a jolt to the Twins bullpen, which has performed admirably through the first two months of the season. Despite the solid start, the Twins bullpen has begun to show cracks over the past couple weeks and adding the seven-time All-Star would help solidify the back end with Taylor Rogers and Blake Parker moving into set up roles.

Of course, the Twins will have plenty of competition to acquire Kimbrel’s services. One team is the Chicago Cubs who, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, are “pushing hard” to sign him.

Such a frenzy will kick off a very important week off the field as the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s La Velle E. Neal reported that the Twins have not only talked to Kimbrel, but starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel as well. Neal also reports that the Twins are more interested in Kimbrel at this stage which may not be surprising considering some of the baggage that comes with the former Houston Astros’ ace.

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With both pitchers looking to land homes as soon as possible, it appears that there will be an imminent conclusion for both free agents and the Twins hope to land one (or maybe even both) in Minnesota.

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