Earlier this offseason, Tampa Bay principal owner Stu Sternberg quipped that there would be no $15 million closer coming through the doors of the Rays clubhouse.
Normally you could believe such a statement, but Sternberg also once said there wasn’t going to be a $7 million closer walking through those doors, days before the Rays traded for Rafael Soriano from the Atlanta Braves. So as long as Craig Kimbrel is available on the free agent market it’s only natural to wonder if history could be repeating.
Combine that lingering thought with what Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times sent out in the following tweet:
I know what #Rays have said and what I've written about them not planning to add an experienced and expensive closer like Kimbrel, but am also getting the sense there is a "never say never" sentiment as he continues to remain unsigned (and thus in theory less expensive).