Will Craig Kimbrel get another World Series ring with the Phillies?

With the addition of Craig Kimbrel to their bullpen, the Phillies have a closer who knows what is needed to win the World Series. After a taste of the big time when he was the closer for the Red Sox on their run toward the 2018 title, Kimbrel has languished in Chicago and Los Angeles, struggling to repeat the performance.

But he was always on the lookout for another bite at the apple. He may well have found it in the Philadelphia Phillies.

With the signing of Trea Turner in the post season, the Phillies have pieced together a squad that is as good as any in baseball. Their bullpen has been tightening all of their laces as well, picking up Matt Strahm and Taijuan Walker in starting and relieving roles, and the addition of Kimbrel on a one-year, $10 million deal sees their ability to slam the door on opposition make them an almost perfect pitching staff.

Kimbrel is insistent, however, that he is not focusing solely on being the closer, especially since the Phillies bullpen already features Seranthony Domínguez and José Alvarado. But when you have Kimbrel on your roster, you have one of the best closers in the history of the game at your disposal. Currently seventh on the all-time saves list, he is just six saves off becoming only the seventh pitcher in history to save more than 400 games.

“I would say I do understand that it’s a very honoring achievement, if I can get there,” says Kimbrel. “And I do expect to get there. But I’m not focusing on any number of saves or what position I’m going to be in. I’m just focusing on helping the team any way I can and I think good things will come from that.”

He was a key component on the Dodgers’ stellar run last season, but saw all of their good work undone late in the autumn.

“Seeing a team fight hard and get to that point and then come up just short, I’ve been on enough of those teams to be able to say, ‘Hey that team was good enough and it looks like they’re going to have that opportunity again.’ And when I look at the Phillies, that’s what I saw. At this point in my career, I want to win championships.”

Los Angeles’ struggles in the late season were shared by Kimbrel himself, who began to flag toward September, losing the dedicated closer job as the playoffs approached. The Phillies pitching coaches feel like they have the right formula for bringing the best out of the eight-time All-Star late in the season.

Kimbrel says that he is on board with anything that it takes to win in Philadelphia, acknowledging that some of his mechanics may need to change to get there.

“This game has changed and it will continue to change. If I want to continue to be part of it, that has to be part of the conversation, as well. The goal is winning a World Series, and that’s about it. If some other things are achieved in between there, I’ll be happier than anything, but if we can go all the way, that’s all that matters.”

That is exactly the kind of attitude that could reap big rewards in 2023 for the Phillies.