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Kimbrel's daughter doing better; Red Sox unsure of his Opening Day status

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox are unsure if Craig Kimbrel will rejoin the team in time for Opening Day as the All-Star closer continues to care for his infant daughter Lydia, who's recovering from heart surgery.

Kimbrel returned to Boston at the end of February and has been throwing to hitters and working out in order to prepare for the season. Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Kimbrel's daughter is doing better and the right-hander has the full support of the team to take as much time as he needs.

"Obviously, it's about Lydia. If she keeps improving, they'll make a decision as a family," Cora said, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. "Whatever they decide, we'll agree with. If he has to stay up there, he stays. If he comes down, he comes down."

Kimbrel, who is set to become a free agent at the end of this season, is coming off a dominant year in which he posted a 1.43 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, and 126 strikeouts over 69 innings.

Should Kimbrel not be ready for the start of the season, Cora could use a closer by committee, with Carson Smith, Joe Kelly, and Matt Barnes as potential candidates to close.

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