NORTH PORT, Fla. — Craig Kimbrel is coming again to the place it began with the hope of extending his profession.
Kimbrel has agreed to a Minor League cope with the Braves, in keeping with a number of sources with information of the deal. The veteran reliever will make $2 million if he’s added to Atlanta’s roster. The membership has not confirmed the settlement.
Kimbrel set the Braves franchise document with the 186 saves he totaled from 2010-14. The 36-year-old hurler not stands as one of many recreation’s most dominant relievers. However with a bounceback yr he may assist fill a number of the holes in Atlanta’s bullpen.
Kimbrel posted a 5.33 ERA over 57 appearances for the Orioles final yr earlier than being designated for task in September. He hasn’t been in camp with any membership because the begin of Spring Coaching. So, he’ll make vital preparations earlier than starting this season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Braves nearer Raisel Iglesias, setup man Pierce Johnson and left-handers Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer are at the moment the one locks for Atlanta’s bullpen. Daysbel Hernández is a close to lock. Enyel De Los Santos and Hector Neris are non-roster invitees who may fill two of the remaining three spots. The final spot could possibly be given to somebody to function a protracted reliever.
The Braves play every of the primary seven days of the common season. So, the Braves may carry AJ Smith-Shawver to both make a begin or be a protracted aid choice throughout this span. If he makes a begin, Ian Anderson may initially be tabbed the lengthy reliever.
In Kimbrel, the Braves reunite with one of the vital embellished closers ever, probably a future Corridor of Famer. He is a nine-time All-Star, most lately in 2023 with the Phillies, and has received MLB’s Reliever of the Yr Award in each leagues — he was the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Yr in 2014 with the Braves, and the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Yr in 2017 with the Pink Sox.
Kimbrel has 440 profession saves coming into the 2025 season, fifth-most all-time and second-most amongst energetic closers behind Kenley Jansen.
Kimbrel has amassed 1,265 profession strikeouts, third-most ever as a reliever behind Hoyt Wilhelm (1,363) and Goose Gossage (1,340), and a profession 14.1 Ok/9 that is second to solely Aroldis Chapman amongst relievers with at the least 500 appearances.
Kimbrel has led his league in saves 4 occasions and the Majors as soon as — that was his career-best 50-save season in 2013 — though the final of these seasons was a decade in the past. He has 5 40-save seasons, fourth-most of any nearer after Rivera (9), Hoffman (9) and Francisco Rodriguez (six), and eight 30-save seasons.
He is additionally been to the postseason 9 occasions, with 5 totally different groups — the Braves, Pink Sox, Cubs, White Sox and Phillies — and was a World Collection champion with the Pink Sox in 2018, closing out three of Boston’s 4 wins over the Dodgers within the Fall Traditional.
Kimbrel’s most up-to-date postseason run with the Phillies in 2023 did finish on a down be aware. He took two losses towards the D-backs within the NLCS as Philadelphia was eradicated, previous his signing with the Orioles and his struggles in 2024.
Kimbrel posted a 1.91 ERA and was profitable with 333 of 367 save alternatives (90.8 p.c) from 2010-18. He has produced a 3.90 ERA and transformed 107 of 137 save alternatives (80.1 p.c) because the begin of the 2019 season.
Kimbrel was chosen by the Braves within the third spherical of the 2008 MLB Draft. He remained with the group till the eve of the 2015 season, when he was despatched to the Padres in a deal that allowed the Braves to free themselves of B.J. Upton’s contract. The return included a aggressive steadiness spherical decide that Atlanta used to pick out Austin Riley.
