About three hours after a report of former Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel being ready to sit out the season if he didn't get the contract he wanted, his agent issued a strong denial that the reliever plans to not pitch in 2019.
Kimbrel's agent, David Meter, told The Athletic and FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the report is "utterly false."
Kimbrel, 31, 14th on the all-time saves list with 333, was reported to be initially seeking a six-year, $100 million deal when the offseason began. The Red Sox made a one-year, $17 million qualifying offer to him in order to guarantee draft-pick compensation. There's reportedly also been interest from the Phillies and one of his other former teams, the Braves.
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