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.
