Craig Kimbrel traded to Red Sox for prospects
— -- The Boston Red Sox have acquired four-time National League All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres in exchange for several prospects.
The Padres receive outfielder Manuel Margot, shortstop Javier Guerra, infielder Carlos Asuaje and left-hander Logan Allen.
This marks the first trade by Red Sox president of baseball operations David Dombrowski, who was hired in August after being fired by the Detroit Tigers two weeks earlier.
The Padres traded for Kimbrel just hours before the season started in April as part of a series of trades made by Padres general manager A.J. Preller last offseason. But the Padres quickly faltered, and the team had serious discussions with the Houston Astros and New York Yankees about a deal for Kimbrel at the trade deadline. San Diego's disappointing 74-88 finish led to the firing of manager Bud Black.
Kimbrel, 27, reached 30 saves for the fifth consecutive season, going 4-2 with 39 saves and a 2.58 ERA in 61 appearances. Since the start of his first full major league season in 2011, Kimbrel leads all major league relievers in saves (224) and is second in ERA (1.70), strikeouts (523), strikeouts per nine innings (14.37), and save percentage (90.7).
Margot, 21, has a .282 average with 70 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs, and 132 stolen bases in 342 career minor league games. He hit .276 with six home runs and 50 RBI between Class A Salem and Double-A Portland in 2015. Guerra, 20, was named the Red Sox minor league defensive player of the year and was ranked as Baseball America's best defensive shortstop while playing in Class A Greenville.
Friday's move is the second in two days for the Padres. On Thursday, the Padres sent 38-year-old right-hander Joaquin Benoit to the Seattle Mariners for two minor league prospects -- right-handed pitcher Enyel De Los Santos and infielder Nelson Ward.
ESPN senior writer Jayson Stark and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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