Red Sox: Grading Dave Dombrowski’s deals that shaped the 2018 season

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations, left, and Mike Hazen, new Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Red Sox, address the media during a press conference to announce Hazen's promotion before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 24, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations, left, and Mike Hazen, new Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Red Sox, address the media during a press conference to announce Hazen's promotion before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on September 24, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JULY 11: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after walking in a run in the eighth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 11: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after walking in a run in the eighth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Craig Kimbrel traded to Boston from San Diego for Logan Allen, Carlos Asuaje, Javy Guerra, & Manuel Margot

Arguably one of the best closers in the game, Craig Kimbrel led the league the last four years in saves during his time in Atlanta before getting moved to San Diego. After one sub-par season in Southern California, Kimbrel was moved to Boston for a package of four. While none of them have materialized into anything substantial, there is some hope that Logan Allen at the age of 21 could turn into something special.

Allen in 2017 finished up 14-6 in both AA and AAA with 151 strike outs in 148 2/3 innings of work. Allen also had a 2.54 ERA. If Allen has a good 2019 season, there’s a chance he makes his major league debut next year. Overall, was the haul worth the price for the Red Rocket?

Absolutely. Only one player has materialized into anything and only one has done any work in the majors. How has Kimbrel done? Kimbrel from 2016 through 2018 recorded a 12 – 7 record with 108 saves and compiled 305 punch outs in 184 1/3 innings of work, good enough for a 14.9 K/9 Ratio. Scary numbers only marred by a rocky 2018 postseason en route to winning the World Series, the first in five years for the Red Sox. After turning down a one year qualifying offer, his time in Boston has almost surely come to an end.

Overall grade?

A. . Trade. . Craig Kimbrel