Kimbrel signed with the Astros on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Kimbrel was granted his release by the Rangers on Thursday and inked his new deal the same day. He's made only one appearance in the majors this season, which came with Atlanta. The Astros are in need of bullpen help with Josh Hader (shoulder) sidelined, but Kimbrel is unlikely to factor into the saves picture.
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Craig Kimbrel: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Kimbrel was granted his release at Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Kimbrel signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers in June, but he never made it to the big club in Texas. He remained at Round Rock, where he had a 3.86 ERA across 21 innings, until his release Thursday.
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Rangers' Craig Kimbrel: Lands with Rangers
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Kimbrel signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Kimbrel elected free agency Monday after being pushed off Atlanta's 40-man roster, but it didn't take long for him to find his next gig with Texas. It's worth noting that the 37-year-old is only on a minor-league deal, so another move will need to be made for him to join the active roster. However, he owns a 2.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in Triple-A this season, so there's a decent chance he'll get another shot in the majors at some point.
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Craig Kimbrel: Elects free agency
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Kimbrel elected free agency Monday after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Kimbrel had his contract selected from Triple-A on Friday and was designated for assignment by Atlanta on Saturday after pitching one inning in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Giants. Kimbrel faced three batters and gave one hit, walked one and struck one out. The 37-year-old will seek a new opportunity.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: DFA'd by Atlanta
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Atlanta designated Kimbrel for assignment Saturday.
Kimbrel was called up from the minors Friday for a return to the big-league club that drafted him in 2008, but the reunion may end up being short-lived. The veteran reliever looked fine in pitching a scoreless inning against the Giants on Friday, though he allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one batter and averaging only 91.5 mph on his fastball. Atlanta filled Kimbrel's bullpen spot by recalling lefty reliever Austin Cox from the minors.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: Clean inning in return to Atlanta
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Kimbrel gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning during Friday's extra-inning loss to the Giants. He struck out one.
Making his first appearance for Atlanta since the end of the 2014 regular season, the 37-year-old right-hander gave up a single and a walk but saw both baserunners erased on a caught stealing and a pickoff, before he struck out old NL East foe Wilmer Flores to end the seventh inning. It was a fairly high-leverage spot for Kimbrel in his season debut, but he's a long way from his peak as the game's most dominant reliever -- per David O'Brien of the Athletic, Kimbrel averaged just 91.5 mph with his fastball Friday. Still, with Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias struggling badly and no one else in the bullpen stepping up as a viable replacement, there may be a path for Kimbrel to add to his career total of 440 saves.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: Call-up made official
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Atlanta selected Kimbrel's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
Kimbrel is set for his 2025 MLB debut, joining Atlanta's bullpen after logging a 2.45 ERA in 14.2 innings with Gwinnett this season. His role within the bullpen is unclear, but the 37-year-old will look to reclaim his previous form after logging a 5.33 ERA in 2024 with Baltimore.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: No timeline for promotion
Rotowire
Kimbrel is still building up his velocity at Triple-A Gwinnett, and there's no timeline for him to be added to Atlanta's 26-man roster, Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Atlanta's bullpen needs help behind closer Raisel Iglesias, but it's not clear when Kimbrel might be able to bolster the team's relief corps. The 36-year-old has thrown 7.1 innings over seven appearances between Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB, but his fastball velocity has mainly been sitting in the low 90s, a step back even from the 93.9 mph he averaged in 2024. "I learned last year when it comes to velocity, the velocity itself doesn't really matter as much as how I use my pitches, masking my pitches," Kimbrel said Wednesday. "I don't throw 100 mph anymore, so I can't just go out there and try to throw it by everybody. So it's taking the mindset of a pitcher and using my pitches to get guys out." Kimbrel sits fifth on MLB's all-time save list with 440, with the first 186 coming in an Atlanta uniform, but he's unlikely to add much to that total in his second stint with the team.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: Joins Double-A roster
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Kimbrel has been assigned to the Double-A Columbus roster, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Signed to a minor-league contract in mid-March, Kimbrel had been getting ramped up at Atlanta's spring training complex in Florida and is now ready to appear in games. The veteran reliever should eventually move up to Triple-A Gwinnett and, if all goes well, the plan is for him to join the big-league roster sometime in May.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: Not yet facing hitters
Rotowire
Manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that Kimbrel is still ramping up at the team's complex in Florida but hasn't begun facing hitters yet, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.
Kimbrel got off to a late start preparing for the season, as he didn't sign with Atlanta until close to the end of spring training. There's no telling when he might begin facing live opponents, but the plan is still for him to join the big-league club sometime in May if he proves to be effective in the minor leagues.
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Braves' Craig Kimbrel: Headed to Atlanta on MiLB deal
Rotowire
Kimbrel signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Kimbrel showed flashes of his old self with the Orioles last year, but inconsistency led him to finish the season with a 5.33 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 52.1 innings while converting 23 of his 29 save opportunities. Now entering his age-37 season, the right-hander will get another chance to prove he can still perform at a high level with the organization that drafted him back in 2008. Even if Kimbrel makes his way back into the majors, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to perform anywhere near the level he was at when he last wore an Atlanta uniform.
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Craig Kimbrel: Officially released
Rotowire
The Orioles released Kimbrel on Tuesday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.
The 36-year-old was designated for assignment by the Orioles last week and will now officially exit the organization. Kimbrel was dominant at times this season as he racked up 23 saves in 29 opportunities, but he surrendered 23 earned runs in his last 19 appearances before Baltimore elected to move on. The right-hander finished with a 5.33 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 73:31 K:BB across 57 frames and may now find himself at a career crossroads.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Time in Baltimore up
Rotowire
The Orioles designated Kimbrel for assignment Wednesday.
Kimbrel had an excellent first half as the Orioles closer in posting a 2.80 ERA and 53:16 K:BB over 35.1 innings while notching 23 saves. He has cratered since the All-Star break, however, turning in a 10.59 ERA, 2.18 WHIP and 15 walks in 17 frames. Kimbrel was being used in a mop-up role this month, and in his most recent appearance Tuesday, he allowed six runs while recording just two outs. The 36-year-old will eventually be released, with the Orioles on the hook for what remains of his $13 million salary in 2024, as well as a $1 million buyout of his 2025 club option.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Nabs win Friday
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Kimbrel (7-4) allowed two hits and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the win Friday over the Astros.
Kimbrel was brought into a low-leverage spot with the Orioles trailing by three runs in the eighth inning. He danced around some danger and became the pitcher of record when Baltimore rallied for five runs in its half of the frame. This was Kimbrel's sixth scoreless outing in his last 13 appearances, a lengthy run of erratic form that has cost him the closer job, which is now occupied by Seranthony Dominguez. Kimbrel is at a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 66:26 K:BB with 23 saves, six blown saves and four holds through 46.2 innings, and given his recent struggles, it's unlikely he get a lot of high-leverage looks in the near future.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Yields game-winning run
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Kimbrel (6-4) took the loss Sunday against Tampa Bay, allowing one run on no hits and three walks (one intentional) across one inning. He struck out two.
Kimbrel entered Sunday's contest in the eighth inning with the score tied 1-1 but couldn't keep the Rays off the board, winding up with the loss. He struggled to find the strike zone early, walking leadoff hitter Brandon Lowe on six pitches and walking Christopher Morel on four pitches a batter later. Kimbrel couldn't hold either baserunner, with Lowe immediately taking second, before a double-steal left Morel and Lowe in scoring position. Looking for a double-play ball, Kimbrel intentionally walked Josh Lowe. However, Curtis Mead delivered the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Kimbrel has surrendered at least one run in four of his last seven appearances and hasn't generated a save since July 7. The Orioles have looked elsewhere during the ninth inning in the wake of the 36-year-old's inconsistency, as Seranthony Dominguez picked up the save Saturday even though Kimbrel hadn't pitched in three days.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Blows save Thursday
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Kimbrel blew a save against the Marlins on Thursday, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning.
Kimbrel came on in the ninth frame to try to protect a three-run lead but couldn't get the job done. After retiring the first batter he faced, the veteran closer gave up a pair of singles followed by a walk, then saw a run cross the plate on a fielding error behind him. A sacrifice fly and another single resulted in two more runs, the latter of which tied the game. Kimbrel has now blown two straight save chances and has given up six runs (four earned) over his past 2.2 innings, though he's pitched well enough overall this season to still have control of the closer role for Baltimore.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Falters into sixth win
Rotowire
Kimbrel (6-2) blew a save but picked up the win Sunday, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks over one inning against the Yankees. He struck out one.
Kimbrel came on in the ninth looking for his 24th save but quickly blew that opportunity by allowing a couple of walks followed by a three-run homer by Ben Rice. To his credit, Kimbrel then retired the next three batters, making him the pitcher of record when the Orioles completed their own comeback in the bottom of the inning. Despite Sunday's outing, Kimbrel has been highly effective in his first season with the Orioles, entering the All-Star break with six wins, 23 saves, a 2.80 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 39 appearances spanning 35.1 innings.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Lands 23rd save
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Kimbrel picked up the save Sunday, allowing one hit and no walks with two strikeouts across a scoreless inning against Oakland.
Kimbrel has now fired seven consecutive scoreless frames, going 7-for-7 in save chances during that stretch to bring his season total up to 23 saves. The 36-year-old fell to a 4.73 ERA after his first 16 appearances of 2024, but has been dominant since, recording a 0.43 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 21.0 innings.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Locks down 22nd save
Rotowire
Kimbrel picked up the save in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Athletics. He pitched a clean inning with two strikeouts.
The veteran closer extended his scoreless appearances streak to six with this performance, promptly retiring the side on a tidy 10 pitches. Kimbrel stands fourth all-time in career saves with 439, needing 40 more to pass Lee Smith for third. The Baltimore right-hander has been nearly untouchable since May 10, firing a 0.45 ERA, 0.25 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB across 20 innings while securing 14 saves.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Strikes out two for 21st save
Rotowire
Kimbrel picked up the save over the Mariners on Wednesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning while striking out two.
Kimbrel entered the contest with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and fanned the first two batters he faced before getting Julio Rodriguez to pop out to first for the final out. The veteran reliever has converted each of his last five save attempts, posting a 9:3 K:BB over that stretch while not allowing any hits. Kimbrel has also recorded two or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances.
