Craig Kimbrel Elects Free Agency After DFA Move

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Craig Kimbrel Elects Free Agency After DFA Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Craig Kimbrel doesn't think he's done quite yet.
The Atlanta Braves relief pitcher is now the former Atlanta Braves relief pitcher after he elected to become a free agent on Monday. The Braves had designated him for assignment over the weekend after just one game in the big leagues this season.
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Kimbrel, a potential future Hall of Famer, began his career in Atlanta in 2010. From 2011, when he won National League Rookie of the Year, to 2014, Kimbrel made four All-Star Games, finished top-10 in Cy Young Award voting all four times, including two times in the top five, and garnered a top-10 Most Valuable Player finish.
The 37-year-old right-hander struggled last year with the Baltimore Orioles, as he finished with a 5.33 ERA with 23 saves. The Orioles released him in September before he latched back on the with the Braves.
Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
At Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus, Kimbrel pitched to a 1-1 record with a 2.00 ERA over 18 games. The Braves called him up to the majors last week. He subsequently worked one scoreless inning in his only appearance before Atlanta DFA'd him.
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Kimbrel is the franchise's all-time leader in saves with 186 and his 440 rank fifth all time. Besides the Braves and Orioles, Kimbrel spent time with San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.