Kimbrel traded to Dodgers
White Sox receive former All-Star Pollock for reliever
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Craig Kimbrel had been mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason.
The White Sox found a new home for the reliever Friday and in the processaddressedaneedinrightfield by sending Kimbrel to the Los AngelesDodgersforoutfielderAJPollock.
The major move comes a week before the Sox open the regular season April 8 against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
“We are thrilled to add a player of AJ Pollock’s caliber to this roster,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “We view him as making us better offensively as well as defensively and providing us with some important flexibility as we go through this season, as well as some depth for whatever valleys may lie ahead for us.”
Pollock has a career .281/.338/.482 slash line with 126 home runs and 414 RBIs in 895 games during 10 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2012-18) and Dodgers (2019-21). He was a National League All-Star and won a Gold Glove Award in 2015.
“He had a good situation (with the Dodgers) and (he’s) very excited to come here,” manager Tony La Russa said. “I knew him in Arizona. (He is a) high-quality guy, can play three positions, can hit him anywhere. He runs well.
“He’s a good, experienced, championship-type player.”
Pollock, 34, slashed 297/.355/.536 with a career-hightying 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, 53 runs and nine stolen bases in 117 games last season.
“Quality, professional hitter,” Hahn said. “We all know what he’s capable of doing defensively.
“We’ve already had a handful of conversations with Tony and the coaches about how we are going to mix him in as well as continue to obviously get Eloy (Jiménez) and Luis Robert and (Gavin) Sheets and (Andrew) Vaughn their opportunities as well.
“(We’re) excited by the addition. (I) think it makes us better.”
Pollock has played 659 games in center field, 164 in left and six in right.
“Trust me, he can play right field,” La Russa said. “He’s a really good athlete and (he) has a good arm.”
Pollock gives the Sox yet another player with postseason experience. He has played in 34 playoff games and was on the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series-winning team.
“Every time you’ve gone through (the postseason), you learn something,” La Russa said.
Pollock gives the Sox another option in the outfield while Kimbrel gets the chance to return to pitching in the ninth inning after longtime Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen signed with the Atlanta Braves. Kimbrel is ninth on the all-time saves list with 372.
“His character is as good as it gets,” La Russa said of Kimbrel. “(The trade) works out really well for him and works out well for us.”
Kimbrel, 33, combined to go 4-5 with a 2.26 ERA, 24 saves, seven holds, 100 strikeouts, a .150 batting average against and 0.91 WHIP in 63 relief appearances between the Cubs and Sox in 2021.
The Sox acquired the eighttime All-Star in July from the Cubs in one of the biggest moves at the trade deadline, adding to a bullpen that featured closer Liam Hendriks. Kimbrel had a bumpy transition going from closer to a setup role, finishing with a 5.09 ERA in 24 appearances.
“Sad to see Craig go,” Hahn said, “but he’s got a great opportunity for him with a very, very good Dodgers team and very likely in a role he obviously has excelled in for the vast majority of his career.”