Once a dominant reliever, Craig Kimbrel has been a shell of his former self in recent years. Can he find a spot to help channel his old self?
9-Time All-Star Reliever Looking For Another Chance
Kimbrel, 36, just finished his 14th MLB season, which was his worst yet. For the first part of his career, Kimbrel was one of the top relievers in the MLB. He made 7 All-Star games in the span from 2010-2018. Since, despite adding on 2 All-Star appearances, Kimbrel has not been the same. His worst season was 2024, which he spent in Baltimore. Despite a decent start, Kimbrel had a terrible second half to the season, leading to a DFA.
Now, Kimbrel is a free agent, looking for one more chance as a Major Leaguer.
Craig Kimbrel’s 2024
After signing a 1 year, 13-million-dollar deal in the offseason with the Orioles, Craig Kimbrel was expected to assume the closer role. The Orioles hoped he would fill in for All-Star Felix Bautista, who was expected to miss all of 2024 with an elbow injury.
At first, it seemed the Craig Kimbrel experiment was a success. Despite a few blips, Kimbrel earned a spot as the Orioles closer in the first half of the season. He collected a 6-2 record through 39 outings and had a 2.70 ERA. Most importantly, he had 23 saves. All signs pointed toward Kimbrel being a key contributor down the stretch.
However, things quickly went downhill for Kimbrel. In the second half of the season, Kimbrel imploded. Over 18 appearances, Kimbrel had a 10.59 ERA. He had a 1-3 record over this span and did not collect a save. It was the worst stretch of his career. Following a 10-0 loss to the Giants, in which Kimbrel gave up 6 earned runs in 0.2 innings, the Orioles designated Kimbrel for assignment.
What Went Wrong For Kimbrel
A lot went wrong for Kimbrel during the 2024 season. However, one thing in particular stood out. During his second-half implosion, Kimbrel gave up 18 walks in 17 innings, an absurd amount to give up in such a short time. During the season, Kimbrel gave up 5.3 walks per nine innings, the highest total ever, excluding his rookie season and the Covid-19-shortened 2020 season. Overall, Kimbrel was unable to keep runners off the basepaths, and once they were on, they always seemed to score.
Potential Contract
If Kimbrel lands with a Major League squad, it will most likely be for the veteran minimum, a one-year, $740,000 contract. However, it may be more likely that Kimbrel signs a minor league deal to prove himself at Spring Training.
Where Will Craig Kimbrel Land?
It’s hard to say what team will give Kimbrel a chance in 2025. A reunion with the Orioles is certainly out of the question. Most playoff teams will be looking for someone with more recent success. It could be that Kimbrel signs with a rebuilding team that hopes to help him find success and trade him at the trade deadline.
One team that could try this is the Pirates. Before the 2024 season, they signed veteran Aroldis Chapman to a one-year contract. Chapman then had an excellent season for them. Although they did not end up trading him at the deadline, the Pirates revived Chapman’s career, and he pitched key innings for them. Kimbrel could do the same thing for them in 2025.
Main Photo Credits: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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