Latest news with #CraigKimbrel
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Phillies All-Star Is Turning Heads in Minors Amid RP Need
Former Phillies All-Star Is Turning Heads in Minors Amid RP Need originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies have weathered the storm following the Jose Alvarado suspension, surging up the standings with an NL-leading 36-20 record. Advertisement But if Philadelphia wants to make it back to the World Series in 2025, there's a good chance they'll still need more bullpen help. So, how about a move for a former Phillies All-Star closer with postseason experience? Former MLB All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel with the Philadelphia Phillies in Hartline-Imagn Images On May 30, The Athletic's MLB insider Ken Rosenthal called attention to long-time major league closer and nine-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel for his minor league performance so far this year. "Anyone interested in a potential Hall of Fame reliever?" Rosenthal joked. Adding: "Right-hander Craig Kimbrel has a 1.54 ERA and is averaging better than a strikeout per inning at Triple A." Advertisement Kimbrel's stellar start was enough to catch the eye of Rosenthal. But how long will it be before he compels an MLB team to make him an offer? According to Rosenthal, "Kimbrel's minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves includes a rolling opt-out. [Meaning] If a club offers him a major-league job, the Braves must promote him to their roster or let him go." So, at the very least, the Phillies could force the Braves' hand on promoting Kimbrel. The veteran closer's last stint on a major league roster came with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. He was eventually released in late September after finishing with an ERA of 5.33. Advertisement Kimbrel has had his fair share of good years and bad throughout his long MLB career. But he's only two seasons removed from the All-Star campaign in Philadelphia. After starting his career with the Braves and four All-Star appearances, Kimbrel pitched for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Phillies and Orioles. He won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018, along with three more All-Star nods during that stretch in Boston. Related: Phillies Star Bryce Harper Announces Injury Update on Friday Related: Phillies Urged to Make Bold Move for Three-Time MVP Mike Trout This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
25-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Craig Kimbrel's return could be boon for Braves' bullpen, if his body cooperates
NORTH PORT, Fla. — When you're Craig Kimbrel from Huntsville, Ala., by way of Wallace State Community College, and you've spent a 15-year MLB career daring guys to hit your formerly hellacious fastball, rarely showing emotion when things went your way and even more rarely making excuses when they didn't, it's hard to change. Advertisement It's also hard for Kimbrel, who was a stoic steamroller of a closer for so many years, to open up and explain why he's suddenly struggling mightily to get hitters out and reporters are asking why, as has been the case a few times in recent seasons including last year before he was released by the Baltimore Orioles in September. Perhaps it felt beneath him to say his back was aching and that his fastball, not the overwhelming pitch it once was, was even less so when he couldn't generate the power with his lower half that he did when he was at his most elite level. Nearly six months later, Kimbrel, 36, was at least willing to share with a reporter — one he knew from those early Atlanta Braves years — that a balky back contributed to his struggles last season. Baltimore had signed him to a one-year, $13 million deal after an All-Star season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 that ended with Kimbrel's taking two losses in the NLCS. There was a real turn-back-the-block torrid stretch last season for Kimbrel, which allowed him to post a 2.10 ERA, 23 saves and a sparkling .147 opponents' average and .483 opponents' OPS in 38 appearances through July 7. But he unraveled from there, with an 11.50 ERA, .303 OA and 1.006 OOPS in 19 appearances through Sept. 17 before being let go. 'Yeah, I know the end of last year was a little tough,' he said. 'It was tough to watch. It was tough to go through. But I was trying. I mean, I was battling. I was trying to stay out there, and it wasn't working out for me for many reasons. But I think I got those reasons taken care of, and I feel pretty good about getting the ball and getting back out there.' Pushed to elaborate on what he was dealing with last season, Kimbrel paused, then said: 'When you get older, there are certain things that — I mean, I played this long in my career. I pitched through stuff. You don't stay out on the field unless you do. And last year, I just hit a point where it was something I couldn't get through. 'And I just needed some time. I got some time. And here I am.' It was clear he didn't want to get much more specific, but a little later, Kimbrel did. Slightly. When asked, he said he didn't hurt his back doing anything specific, such as lifting weights. It was more cumulative. 'I would say just years and years of doing what I'm doing, trying to keep weight on, and as a pitcher the way I throw,' he said. 'I mean, it's all in my legs; it's all my lower body. And as soon as I start trying to do more and trying to use my arm, it's no good.' Advertisement He left a late-April game with back soreness, the second of four times in a five-game stretch in which he failed to make it out of the ninth inning. But he didn't cite health as a reason for those struggles at the time; he only said he needed to do better. And he did, for more than two months immediately after that five-game slide. He produced a 0.43 ERA and .287 opponents' OPS over his next 22 appearances, with 31 strikeouts, five walks, no homers allowed in 21 innings during that span, including 15 saves in 16 opportunities. It was vintage Kimbrel, who got the nickname 'Dirty C' from teammates in Atlanta, back when his stuff was so filthy they expected him to get out of jams with strikeouts — even if two or three runners were on base with one or no outs. But now, in his mid-30s instead of his mid-20s, maintaining that level is far trickier for pitchers. His midseason surge ended with a three-run, three-hit, two-walk inning against the New York Yankees in his last appearance before the All-Star break, a harbinger of what awaited after the break. 'I just got to where I couldn't trust my legs, I couldn't trust my drive, and I'd drop my drive down the mound,' Kimbrel said. 'And when that's the case — I mean, we saw it towards the end last year, it's not any good.' He's the first to acknowledge he isn't as overpowering as he once was, but he said he's still plenty good to perform at a high level when healthy, throwing strikes with his fastball and keeping hitters off-balance with his curveball. 'I'm not throwing 100, but my stuff's still there,' said Kimbrel, whose average fastball velocity was 98 mph at the end of his first five seasons with Atlanta. Kimbrel was still 96.9 in 2020 but dropped to a career-low 93.9 in his physically challenging 2024 season. Lest we forget, Kimbrel was elite for a long time. As elite as any closer for most of a decade. Elite long enough to rack up 440 saves, fifth most in history and more saves than the combined totals of Josh Hader and Edwin Diaz. Advertisement But that's the past. Now, he is an aging reliever trying to rejuvenate his career with his original team, the team with which he had his greatest success, debuting for Atlanta in May 2010 and leading the National League in saves in each of his four full seasons with Atlanta (2011-2014). That included a majors-leading 50 saves with a 1.21 ERA in 2013, when he finished fourth in NL Cy Young balloting, after finishing fifth in 2012 when he posted a 1.01 ERA and had 116 strikeouts with only 14 walks in 62 2/3 innings. Kimbrel made the All-Star team in each of his four full seasons with Atlanta and made it five times since, including three with the Boston Red Sox (2016-2018) and once apiece with the Chicago Cubs (2021) and Phillies (2023). And for a while last summer, he was healthy and elite again. The Braves hope there's more of that first-half Kimbrel left in the tank. They figured there was no risk involved in signing him to a minor league deal that will pay $2 million prorated for any time he's on the MLB roster, which could be as soon as a few weeks from now, after he gets ramped up at Triple-A Gwinnett and assuming the Braves have a need. 'Hopefully he can replicate what he did the first half of last year,' said Braves manager Brian Snitker, who was Atlanta's third-base coach when Kimbrel debuted in the majors. 'It'll be awesome if he can come in and do that. It'll be good to see him. God, I loved Craig.' If he's got something left as he showed for a couple of months last season, he could be valuable for a Braves bullpen that has some potent arms but lacks depth. 'Anytime you can add a bullet like that to your bullpen, a guy with that experience,' Snitker said, 'obviously back-end, closer-type stuff. If he can pitch in the seventh inning on, that'd be awesome to get a guy like that.' Advertisement Kimbrel didn't have a spring training since he was unsigned until last week, so he'll be careful not to overdo things initially. He wants to use the next two or three weeks as his spring training, then be ready to help the Braves if and when they have a need. He's not looking ahead too far, but Kimbrel's eyes lit up when he was informed the Braves would play the Cincinnati Reds in a special one-off game Aug. 2 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Alabama native's dad, Mike, is a big racing fan and became known for riding his Harley-Davidson hundreds of miles to some of Kimbrel's road games when he was with the Braves. TV cameras would often show the long-haired, long-bearded Mike Kimbrel seated in the stands, in a Kimbrel jersey and leather hat. 'He's still riding, but not quite as much,' Kimbrel said, smiling. When told about the Braves game this summer at Bristol, Kimbrel said, 'Oh, he'll definitely ride to that one and probably bring some of his buddies.'
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Braves sign 9-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to minor-league deal
FILE - Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File) ATLANTA (AP) — Nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is attempting to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves, his original team. Kimbrel and catcher James McCann have agreed to minor league contracts, the team confirmed on Wednesday. Kimbrel will remain at the Braves spring training site when the season opens March 27, then will report to Triple-A Gwinnett. Kimbrel, a 36-year-old right-hander, was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 24 with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 29 chances. The right-hander has pitched in 837 games and his 440 saves rank fifth. Advertisement The Braves are set to open the season with 35-year-old right-hander Raisel Iglesias as their closer. Iglesias had 34 saves in 38 chances with a 1.95 ERA last season. Kimbrel was drafted by the Braves in 2008 and made his major league debut in 2010. He led the National League in saves in four consecutive seasons, beginning with his 46 in 2011 when he was voted Rookie of the Year and capping that stretch with 47 in 2014. He set a career high with 50 saves in 2013. Kimbrel also has pitched for San Diego, Boston, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia, where he made his last NL All-Star team in 2023. The Braves also confirmed a minor league contract with McCann, a 34-year-old who hit .234 with eight homers for the Orioles last year in the final season of a $40.6 million, four-year contract he signed with the New York Mets. Advertisement McCann was a 2019 AL All-Star with the Chicago White Sox. He made his major league debut with Detroit in 2014. He has a .241 career batting average in 11 seasons, including the 2021-22 seasons with the Mets. The Braves released 38-year-old left-hander Jake Diekman, who had a 4.91 ERA over 7 1/3 innings in seven spring training appearances. Diekman, who had a 5.63 ERA with the Mets in 2024, was competing for a bullpen spot. ___ AP MLB:
Reuters
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Reports: Braves bringing back RHP Craig Kimbrel on minor league deal
March 19 - The Atlanta Braves are signing nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract that will be worth $2 million if the right-hander plays again for his original big league team, according to multiple reports on Tuesday night. Kimbrel, who turns 37 in May, hasn't been with an organization since the Baltimore Orioles released him on Sept. 24, 2024. Signed to a $13 million contract to be the team's closer, Kimbrel went 7-5 with 23 saves, a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 52 1/3 innings over 57 relief appearances in 2024. He lost his job as the closer to Seranthony Dominguez. An All-Star as recently as the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Kimbrel is second among active pitchers with 440 saves, which rank fifth all-time. Kenley Jansen leads among active pitchers with 447 saves, while Mariano Rivera has the record with 652. Kimbrel is 56-47 over his career with a 2.59 ERA, 339 walks and 1,265 strikeouts in 809 2/3 innings over 837 games -- all in relief. He has finished 651 games, second among active pitchers behind only Jansen (653). The Braves selected Kimbrel in both the 2007 MLB Draft (33rd round) and 2008 draft (third round) out of Wallace State Community College in Huntsville, Ala. He signed with the organization in June 2008 and made his major league debut with Atlanta on May 7, 2010. He played for the Braves from 2010-14, winning National League Rookie of the Year in 2011 and leading the NL in saves in four straight seasons (2011-14), including a MLB-best 50 in 2013. The Braves traded him to the San Diego Padres on April 5, 2015. Kimbrel has also spent time with the Boston Red Sox (2016-18), Chicago Cubs (2019-21) and Chicago White Sox (2021), Los Angeles Dodgers (2022) and Phillies (2023), winning a World Series with Boston in 2018. --Field Level Media
New York Times
19-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Braves reunite with former closer Craig Kimbrel on minor-league deal: Source
The circle could be completed for Craig Kimbrel, the longtime former Braves closer who signed a minor-league contract with his original team on Tuesday. Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star who'll be 37 in May and has 440 career saves in 15 seasons, will follow a similar schedule as veteran catcher James McCann, who signed a minor-league deal with the Braves on Monday. Since both missed most of spring training, they'll stay behind in minor-league camp for at least a few weeks before joining the Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett affiliate. If nothing else, both players could be low-cost depth pieces for the Braves, and if they have anything left one or both could end up helping the big-league team. Kimbrel will make $2 million if he's on the major-league team. Free-agent reliever Craig Kimbrel heading back to where he started. In agreement with Braves on minor-league deal, source tells @TheAthletic. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 18, 2025 Kimbrel said he's been throwing live batting practice while waiting to sign with a team. 'Dirty C' had at least 22 saves in each of the past three seasons. He made the NL All-Star team with the Phillies in 2023 and pitched well into August 2024 for the Orioles before falling apart in the final six weeks. Advertisement Kimbrel finished 2024 with a 5.33 ERA — more than twice his career 2.59 — and 1.357 WHIP. He still had 72 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings, but walked 31 and allowed 40 hits. Most of the real damage came in the final stretch of the season. After posting a 3.21 ERA while holding opponents to a .176 average and .583 OPS in 46 appearances through Aug. 6, Kimbrel was rocked for a 13.94 ERA in his final 11 appearances, when opponents hit .318 with a 1.062 OPS. He had 12 strikeouts, nine walks and three homers allowed in 10 1/3 innings of that skid. The Orioles, who signed him to a $13 million contract plus a club option for 2025, designated him for assignment in mid-September. Kimbrel, a native of Huntsville, Ala., was a third-round pick by the Braves out of Wallace State (Ala.) Community College. He debuted with Atlanta in 2010 and made four consecutive All-Star appearances in his first four full seasons with the Braves (2011-2014) while also finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting each of those years. He also won the 2011 Rookie of the Year award over teammate and future MVP Freddie Freeman after posting a 2.10 ERA and racking up 46 saves across 79 games. He led the NL in saves in each of those seasons and led the majors in saves with 50 in 2013. From 2012 through 2014, Kimbrel was spectacular, posting a 1.27 ERA and 0.815 WHIP in 194 appearances with 139 saves and 309 strikeouts against 60 walks in 191 1/3 innings. In 2012, he was fifth in Cy Young votes and eighth in NL MVP balloting, and in 2013 he was fourth in the Cy Young race and 11th in MVP votes. Kimbrel made three consecutive AL All-Star teams with Boston, with whom he saved six postseason games and induced the final out of the Red Sox's 2018 World Series championship in the final year of his contract. Kimbrel was most recently an All-Star with Philadelphia in 2023, with a 3.26 ERA and 94 strikeouts (28 walks) in 69 innings. Advertisement Kimbrel led the majors with 332 saves from 2011 through 2018, while Kenley Jansen was second in those eight years with 264. Both are Hall of Fame candidates and rank fourth and fifth in all-time saves, Jansen in fourth with seven more saves (447) than Kimbrel. The top three on the career saves list — Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman and Lee Smith — are enshrined at Cooperstown, and Billy Wagner, who is eighth with 422 saves, was voted into the Hall of Fame in January in his final year on the ballot. The ninth- and 15th-place saves leaders, Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers, are also in the Hall of Fame. Eckersley was a former starter turned reliever who finished with 197 wins and 390 saves, and Fingers was an old-school multi-innings closer who had 114 wins and 341 saves. (Photo of Craig Kimbrel with the Braves in 2014: Jason Getz / Imagn Images)
