MLB Notebook: Orioles designate closer Craig Kimbrel for assignment
Photo credit: © Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
The Baltimore Orioles designated closer Craig Kimbrel for assignment on Wednesday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
With Félix Bautista down for the year after following off-season Tommy John surgery, the O’s inked Kimbrel to a one-year, $12 million contract with a club option for 2025 that features either a $13 million salary or $1 million buyout.
Over 57 appearances for Baltimore this season, the right-hander put together a 5.33 ERA with 23 saves in 29 opportunities. Kimbrel pitched well in the first half of the season, as he had a 2.10 ERA at the All-Star break, but has struggled mightily as of late. Since the midsummer classic, his ERA is 11.50.
In his most recent outing on Tuesday, Kimbrel came into the ninth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants with the Orioles down 4-0. He allowed six earned runs on three hits and two walks and only managed to get two outs before passing the ball off to another reliever.
Now 36 years old, Kimbrel was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 33rd round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He didn’t sign and was selected by the team again the following summer in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft.
Kimbrel made his debut with the Braves in 2010 and quickly emerged as an elite closer. He was an All-Star in seven of eight seasons between 2011 and 2018 and he won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in the latter of those years. His 440 saves rank fifth in MLB history.
The Orioles have a couple of other options to use in the closer spot with Kimbrel out of the picture. Seranthony Dominguez, who was acquired earlier this season from the Philadelphia Phillies, has nine saves with Baltimore and a 3.26 ERA over 20 appearances. Yannier Cano, who’s often used in the setup role, has five saves and a 2.78 ERA in 64 games this season.
With just another week after this one on the regular season schedule, Baltimore has found themselves in an uphill battle when it comes to the American League East. They’ve dropped four of their last five games and are four games back of the New York Yankees in the standings. The Orioles and Yankees will play a three-game in New York next week.