Cubs trade All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to White Sox

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs trade closer Craig Kimbrel to White Sox in exchange for Nick Madrigal, Codi Heuer

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 7/30/21

Craig Kimbrel is heading to the South Side of Chicago.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Cubs are finalizing a deal to send the veteran closer to the White Sox. In return, the Cubs will receive second baseman Nick Madrigal and reliever Codi Heuer, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The Chicago White Sox are finalizing a deal to acquire closer Craig Kimbrel from the Chicago Cubs, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2021

The #Cubs will receive second baseman Nick Madrigal and pitcher Codi Heuer from the #WhiteSox for Craig Kimbrel.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2021

Kimbrel adds even more star power to the White Sox bullpen that already has All-Star Liam Hendriks and budding star Michael Kopech.

The 33-year-old is 2-3 this season with a 0.49 ERA, 0.709 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. He has 23 saves in 39 games.

Kimbrel has a lengthy resume, including stints with the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2011 with Atlanta, won the 2018 World Series with Boston and is an eight-time All-Star.

Kimbrel has also finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting in five of his 12 Major League Baseball seasons and received MVP votes in three consecutive campaigns from 2011-13.

Madrigal, meanwhile, underwent season-ending surgery last month after suffering a torn hamstring. He was hitting .305/.349/.425 with two home runs and 21 RBI in 54 games for the White Sox this season.

Heuer, 25, is 4-1 for the White Sox this season with a 5.12 ERA, 1.422 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. It's his second season with the club after being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft.

The Kimbrel trade marks the second time the Chicago rivals have swapped players in as many days. The White Sox acquired reliever Ryan Tepera from the Cubs on Thursday.

The White Sox are running away in the American League Central, owning a 60-43 record, eight games ahead of the second-place Cleveland Indians.

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