White Sox trade pitcher Craig Kimbrel originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago White Sox have traded relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for A.J. Pollock.
It ends a brief, yet disappointing stint on the South Side. At the trade deadline in 2021, the White Sox brought in Kimbrel to bolster the bullpen and help fuel a deep playoff run along side closer Liam Hendriks.
At that point in the season, Kimbrel had a 0.49 ERA with the Cubs and had only allowed two earned runs. In 24 games with the White Sox, Kimbrel had a 5.09 ERA and allowed 13 earned runs.
In 24 appearances in the regular season, Kimbrel gave up a run in at least nine.
And the White Sox would lose to the Houston Astros in the American League Divisional Series.
The Sox sent second baseman Nick Madrigal and pitcher Codi Heuer to the Cubs in the trade.
Kimbrel is on a Hall of Fame trajectory as a closer, but transitioned to a set up role with Hendriks. Neither seemed to have issues with the situation and Hendriks expressed hope that Kimbrel would return in 2022.
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The White Sox picked up Kimbrel's 2022 option, but there was speculation the Sox could be searching for a trade partner before that decision was even made.