All-Star Closer Craig Kimbrel Signs Contract For 2025 MLB Season
03/18/2025 07:12 PM
Craig Kimbrel will attempt to resuscitate his career where it started.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Kimbrel signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the nine-time All-Star would make $2 million if he reaches the majors.
Kimbrel will need a few weeks to prepare before potentially joining Atlanta's bullpen. MLB.com's Mark Bowman said he'll start the 2025 season in Triple-A.
With 440 saves, Kimbrel is fifth on MLB's all-time leaderboard and seven behind active leader Kenley Jansen. However, it's difficult to envision him earning another crack at ninth-inning assignments.
Following a strong 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Kimbrel signed a one-year, $13 million deal to close for the Baltimore Orioles. He registered a 2.80 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 35.1 innings before the All-Star break, but he cratered down the stretch.
In his final 17 innings, Kimbrel allowed 22 hits, 15 walks, and 20 earned runs. The Orioles designated him for assignment after he relinquished six runs in a Sept. 17 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
It may seem like the 36-year-old has reached the end of the road, but Kimbrel also looked lost on the mound when surrendering 24 runs over 36 innings with the Chicago Cubs in 2019 and 2020. He responded by posting a 2.26 ERA and 100 strikeouts the following year.
Atlanta can only hope to unlock a semblance of the shutdown reliever who began his career with the organization. From 2010 to 2014, Kimbrel authored a 1.43 ERA and 14.8 K/9 rate for the Braves.
It's a low-risk gamble for a bullpen that posted MLB's third-best ERA (3.32) last season. The Braves also signed Hector Neris to a minor league contract to compete for a spot in a relief corps led by veteran closer Raisel Iglesias.
Atlanta starts its 2025 season against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, March 27.
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