One of the best closers of all time is available in free agency.
From 2010 until 2024, Craig Kimbrel has been a premier closer for many teams and won a World Series in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. He’s a nine-time All-Star and won the 2011 Rookie of the Year, along with a bunch of other accolades.
Now 36, Kimbrel is once again a free agent after the Baltimore Orioles designated him for assignment toward the end of the season. With that being said, let’s take a look at his stats, his contract outlook, and whether he’s a fit for the Blue Jays.

Craig Kimbrel’s stats

Kimbrel broke into the league all the way back in 2010 with the Atlanta Braves. In his first five seasons, Kimbrel pitched 289 innings with a 1.43 ERA and a 1.52 FIP. After his time with the Braves, he began the journeyman portion of his career, with stops in San Diego, Boston, Chicago (for both teams), Los Angeles (Dodgers), Philadelphia, and Baltimore.
In 2018 with the Red Sox, Kimbrel picked up 42 saves in 47 opportunities, helping the team win the World Series that year. Albeit, his numbers that postseason weren’t great, posting a 5.91 ERA and a 6.54 FIP in 10.2 innings pitched.
Most recently, Kimbrel pitched for the Orioles, where he had a 5.33 ERA and a 4.18 FIP in 52.1 innings pitched, with a 31.5 K% and a 13.4 BB%. This was Kimbrel’s worst season in the big league (minimum 25 innings pitched) and the Orioles DFA’ed him before the postseason.
He’s not the dominant closer he once was either. Since the beginning of the 2019 season, Kimbrel has a 3.90 ERA and a 3.78 FIP in 277 innings pitched, along with a 33.9 K% and an 11.5 BB%. This is to be expected as he gets older.
Still, Kimbrel has 440 career saves, the fifth-most in MLB history behind Kenley Jansen (who is also a free agent), Lee Smith, Trevor Hoffman, and Mariano Rivera, the last three are in the Hall of Fame.

Craig Kimbrel’s contract outlook

While his 2024 season wasn’t good, Spotrac has Kimbrel’s market value at $7.9 million, and they believe he’ll get a two-year deal worth $15.717 overall.
Comparable contracts to what Spotrac believes Kimbrel will get are Daniel Bard’s two-year, $19 million deal, David Robertson’s one-year, $11.5 million deal, Kenley Jansen’s two-year, $32 million deal, and Adam Ottavino’s one-year, $4.5 million deal.

Is Craig Kimbrel a fit for the Blue Jays

The Blue Jays need relievers, and Kimbrel is one of the best closers of all time. With that being said, his 2024 season is a bit worrisome as he’s steadily been on the decline over the past six seasons. At the price point Spotrac has him at, he doesn’t really fit the Jays.
If Kimbrel signs a low-cost, short-term deal, there’s no doubt the Blue Jays would be interested in him. However, so would all 29 other teams as Kimbrel is a playing legend. Expect the interest to be high for the 36-year-old.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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