5 teams that need to sign Kimbrel immediately

Let's assume the slumping Boston Red Sox are sticking to their guns and have no problem running out Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes, or Colten Brewer in the highest-leverage innings of the game instead of bringing back Craig Kimbrel.

It hasn't really been the bullpen that's gotten Boston into trouble this season. The sputtering 2-8 club has dropped all three series it's played so far, and the bullpen ERA ranks middle-of-the-pack at 4.21. The peripherals line up as well, as Boston's relief corps collectively owns a respectable 4.30 FIP and 4.01 xFIP. It's the 36 1/3 innings they've been trusted to throw because the starters just aren't getting it done that's really concerning.

So, if the abysmal Red Sox aren't going to re-sign Kimbrel, who should take a chance on the 30-year-old right-hander? In all honesty, all 29 other teams could find use for one of the best closers of all time, but here are five teams that should sign Kimbrel yesterday.

Washington Nationals

By true results - that is to say, runs allowed - the Nationals' bullpen is the worst in baseball.

Collectively entrusted to work 20 2/3 innings, Washington's relievers have allowed 23 runs - all earned - to cross the plate. Credit to Sean Doolittle, as the club's closer hasn't allowed any of them.

However, Trevor Rosenthal has been almost unfathomably bad, failing to record a single out. The right-hander, who missed all of 2018 after Tommy John surgery, has faced seven batters and allowed all seven to score on four hits and three walks for an infinite ERA. Dating back to his final outing with the St. Louis Cardinals, the 28-year-old hasn't recorded an out in his four most recent appearances. If he fails to retire a batter in his next one, he'll tie the MLB record.

That being said, Matt Grace, Kyle Barraclough, and Tony Sipp just seem to be running into tough luck as all three own respectable fielding-independent numbers over a small sample. In fact, by FIP, the Nationals' bullpen doesn't look nearly as shaky as it has been, posting similar numbers to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Chicago Cubs

Unlike the Nationals, the underlying numbers of the Cubs' bullpen are not promising.

By FIP, it's the fourth-worst relief corps in baseball thus far. Even further, their best reliever has been Jose Quintana, who only made a relief appearance out of necessity because Yu Darvish couldn't make it out of the third inning.

Management is trying to find answers, though, as the club optioned Carl Edwards Jr. to Triple-A. Prior to his demotion, the oft-wild right-hander allowed six runs - all earned - over 1 2/3 innings, giving up two homers and surrendering five walks.

Atlanta Braves

A reunion with Atlanta always seemed to make sense for Kimbrel, and the opening week of the season certainly helped move that narrative along.

Of any presumptive contender - with due respect to the Diamondbacks - the Braves have the worst bullpen in baseball, according to FIP. Most damning is the fact that really no one has performed well in relief. Arodyz Vizcaino has yet to allow an earned run, but has issued three free passes in his three innings of work.

Other than that lone bright spot, it's been rough. Jonny Venters, Chad Sobotka, A.J. Minter, and Shane Carle all have an ERA and FIP above 10.00, and have combined to throw more than 30 percent of the Braves' relief innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have a notable strength in their highest-leverage relievers. Between Kenley Jansen, Caleb Ferguson, Dylan Floro, and Scott Alexander, an earned run has yet to be allowed.

However, the weak points have been extra weak. Brock Stewart, Joe Kelly, and Yimi Garcia have combined to author a 15.75 ERA over 12 innings. Collectively, the trio has allowed half of the 64 batters they've faced to reach base.

Adding Kimbrel to a bullpen already featuring Jansen might seem counterintuitive, but the Dodgers can't afford to let their middle relievers blow games for them. Bolstering the back end would allow the team to give fewer innings to Stewart or Garcia.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals' 4.13 ERA doesn't leap off the page - especially beside the other four teams above. However, their peripheral numbers are quite troubling and the bullpen ranks third-last in MLB by FanGraphs WAR.

The combination of workload and ineffectiveness has gotten to the Cardinals' bullpen early this season and there's a bit of a power vacuum for who gets the highest-leverage innings. Andrew Miller has looked horrendous, allowing four walks and three homers over 3 1/3 innings. Jordan Hicks hasn't looked especially good either, as the flame-throwing right-hander has given up two runs on three hits and one walk. Add in Dominic Leone and you have three pitchers that have each notched one blown save.

Kimbrel's presence would give St. Louis a bona fide closer at the back of its bullpen, and relegate Miller and Hicks into roles that are more manageable. Trusting either to lock down a close game in the ninth inning seems foolish at best for a pennant-chasing team.

Statistics through Saturday's games