The Chicago White Sox have picked up the $16 million club option on star reliever Craig Kimbrel. Brought over in the middle of the season in an attempt to make the White Sox one of the best bullpens in baseball, Kimbrel did just that. His 2.26 ERA was his best in five years and he seemed to thrive in the situations he was put into on the South Side. Originally a member of Chicago's north-side team, the Cubs, Kimbrel had to come over to the OTHER team in the city AND he wasn't the for-sure closer there anymore with Liam Hendricks handling the bulk of the opportunities there.

Many saw 2021 as the final straw in a career that was slowly going down the toilet, but right out of the gates last season he showed that he is the same Kimbrel of old. His ‘renaissance” if you want to call it that, was remarkable so the fact the White Sox exercised the option was a no-brainer. He is set up to be a bridge to Hendricks and if Hendricks ever goes down, the White Sox know that have one of the best closers of all-time waiting in the wings.

Kimbrel would have gotten a lot more on the open market in the shape of a long-term deal. He would probably command 2-3 years and 18 million a year. Instead, he has to prove himself yet again. Judging off of the last time he had to do that, it is probably safe to say he will be showing us all why he was once considered the game's best closer.