The New York Mets informed right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel that he didn’t make the team’s Opening Day roster, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Sunday.
The nine-time All-Star was trying to secure a bullpen spot. He posted a 4.50 ERA in six spring-training appearances, giving up five hits, five walks and two hit batters in six innings.
Kimbrel, who turns 38 in May, ranks fifth all-time with 440 career saves.
Kimbrel is signed to a minor-league deal and is now weighing his future. If he decides to remain with the organization, the Mets will likely send him to Triple-A Syracuse. The other option is to request his release and try to find a major league opportunity with another club.
“Now, he’s deciding whether he wants to stay, which it looks like he’s leaning that way,” Mendoza said. “He likes it here, he wants to win, but he’s also going to look around for opportunities, but there’s a good chance he’s going to stay back here in Florida and continue to pitch until an opportunity presents.”
Kimbrel was a dominant force early in his career, leading the National League in saves four consecutive seasons (2011-14) as the Atlanta Braves’ closer, with totals ranging from 42 to 50.
He had 39 saves for the San Diego Padres in 2015 and recorded over 30 saves in three straight seasons for the Boston Red Sox (2016-18) before his performance started to decline.
He bounced around with seven major league teams over the past seven seasons. Last season, Kimbrel pitched in 42 minor league games for the Braves, Texans Rangers and Houston Astros organizations and made just 14 appearances in the majors, 13 coming with Houston and one with Atlanta.
Overall, he is 56-48 with a 2.58 ERA in 851 career relief appearances.
