Cubs expect Kimbrel is close to ready, already near 'midseason form'

The Chicago Cubs officially welcomed Craig Kimbrel to the club Friday, and the closer's path back to the majors after a long offseason is expected to be a short one.

"Last Friday, you know, Craig threw a bullpen and we sent one of our scouts Joe Nelson and then our super-scout David Ross to go see the workout," Cubs president Theo Epstein said during a press conference, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

"... That bullpen went extremely well, both guys reported that Craig looked like he was just about in midseason form."

Kimbrel, 31, signed a deal this week that's reportedly worth $43 million. The closer is expected to throw a bullpen tomorrow at Wrigley Field before being optioned to Triple-A Iowa and beginning a program in Arizona. The seven-time All-Star doesn't expect to need much preparation before being able to join the big-league club, according to Carrie Muskat.

Epstein said the team contacted Kimbrel leading up to the 2019 MLB Draft, after which draft-pick compensation would no longer hinder a team from signing either Kimbrel or fellow free-agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel reportedly inked a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

"If there was any chance to get this done," Epstein said, "we wanted to make it happen. We saw it as a unique opportunity. I mean, how often can you add an elite closer like Craig - someone who's already on a Hall of Fame trajectory - with the need that we have this season without giving up any prospects? That's such a great opportunity for the Cubs."

Over nine seasons, Kimbrel boasts a 1.91 ERA and 1.96 FIP while notching 333 saves. Among pitchers with at least 500 innings thrown since the beginning of 2010, Kimbrel ranks first in strikeout percentage, ERA, and FIP.