7 veterans the Blue Jays could sign this offseason to grant Kevin Gausman his wish

Craig Kimbrel

This one may take some convincing, but don't forget that at one point, this guy was a surefire Hall of Fame closer. Heck, that may not even be off the table yet, but the 2024 campaign sure was a rough one for Kimbrel, who got released by the Baltimore Orioles just recently.

Kimbrel, 36, is also wrapping up his 15th season in the big leagues and this was one of the worst he's endured. The one-time Braves legend-in-the-making made 57 appearances for the Orioles, going 7-5 with a 5.33 ERA, 4.18 FIP and 71 ERA+, earning 23 saves but blowing six of them and also losing his grip on the O's closer role.

But remember, this is Craig Freakin' Kimbrel we're talking about here. His down year this year should do nothing but lower his ask in free agency, which should put firmly on Ross Atkins' radar. Kimbrel is a nine-time All-Star, two-time Reliever of the Year, a World Series champion and a pitcher who just last year was a reliable cog in the back-end of the Phillies' bullpen. Just give him a shot and see where it goes.