The Baltimore Orioles signed Craig Kimbrel to a one-year, $13 million contract during the offseason to replace All-Star closer Felix Bautista, who is out for the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery.
Kimbrel had just come off an All-Star season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, where he performed well initially but struggled as the season progressed. He became particularly notorious among Phillies fans for blowing two crucial games against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS.
In 2024, Kimbrel had a solid start, posting a 2.10 ERA with four blown saves before the All-Star break. However, his performance took a turn after July 14, when he allowed 23 earned runs in 18 innings and issued 17 walks, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors.
The Orioles decided to designate Kimbrel for assignment following a disastrous outing where he surrendered six earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning during a 10-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants. His September ERA skyrocketed to 22.09, while his overall mark reached 5.33.
Fans on social media expressed relief that Kimbrel’s time with the team was ending.
Kimbrel, one of the most prominent relievers in baseball history, has been designated for assignment by the Orioles, who will promote Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk in his place. At 36, Kimbrel is a nine-time All-Star and has led the National League in saves four times, ranking fifth all-time with 440 saves. He has also played key roles in several playoff runs, including as the closer for the Boston Red Sox during their 2018 World Series championship.
However, Kimbrel has struggled with ninth-inning performances in recent years, and this season has been particularly challenging for him with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 29 opportunities. His latest outing against the Giants, where he allowed six earned runs in 0.2 innings, was a low point.
With Bautista sidelined, the Orioles had previously removed Kimbrel from the closer role earlier in the season. Now, they are permanently demoting him and are likely to adopt a closer-by-committee strategy as they aim for the first Wild Card spot in the AL.
