Craig Kimbrel, a reliever with an all-time resume, is joining the New York Mets after a rough couple of years.
The 16-year veteran has agreed to a minor league deal (with a spring training invite) with the Mets, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If he makes an appearance with the team during the regular season, it will be the 10th MLB team he suits up for.
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Kimbrel has a career 2.58 ERA and is fifth on the all-time saves list with 440 (second among active players, behind Kenley Jansen’s 276). It’s been years since his prime, though, and the past couple seasons have been particular turbulent.
He posted a brutal 5.33 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, then began 2025 with a return to the Atlanta Braves. He was designated for assignment in June, after 18 minor-league appearances and one inning with the the big-league club. He landed days later with the Texas Rangers and made 24 Triple-A appearances, but was released in August without an MLB promotion.
Craig Kimbrel has a new team. Again. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
(Tim Warner via Getty Images)
Kimbrel then joined the Houston Astros, who were desperate for bullpen help and ultimately used him in 13 games, but missed the playoffs. A 12-inning season with a 2.25 ERA doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, but MLB collectively mad it very clear that Kimbrel isn’t valued anywhere near where he once was. He has played for seven different teams in the past five seasons, not counting the Rangers.
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Now, he can potentially join a Mets bullpen currently going through an overhaul. The club lost All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, but responded by signing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to deals totaling $71 million.
It’s been an active offseason for New York beyond that, with additional free agent deals for infielders Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco and trades for starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, second baseman Marcus Semien and outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
With those additions, the Mets will be looking for the first NL East title since 2015. BetMGM currently has them as division favorites at +175, just ahead of the reigning division champ Philadelphia Phillies at +180. Overall, they have the fourth-best World Series odds at +1300, behind the Dodgers (+225), New York Yankees (+1000) and Seattle Mariners (+1200).
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