Right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel is signing with the Kansas City Royals, his third team this season and 12th in his 17-year career, MLB.com and the New York Post reported on Sunday.
Kimbrel, 38, is signing a major league contract and is expected to be activated in time for the Royals’ game Monday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers, per MLB.com.
Kansas City’s bullpen entered Saturday with a 5.32 ERA, better than only the Athletics (5.70) in the majors. So adding free agent Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star, to the bullpen isn’t much of a risk with the team 13 games out in the American League Central and 10 1/2 behind the third and final AL wild-card spot.
Kimbrel last pitched on Aug. 2, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks with one strikeout in the Tampa Bay Rays’ 9-1 home loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Rays designated him for assignment on Aug. 3 at the trade deadline, and he elected free agency on Thursday after clearing waivers.
He was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 10 walks and 17 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings over 19 appearances for Tampa Bay, which signed him on May 25. Kimbrel became a free agent on May 26 when he refused a minor league assignment with the New York Mets.
Kimbrel was 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in 14 outings with the Mets. He struck out 15 batters and walked six in 15 innings and did not record a save
He has a career 56-50 record with a 2.67 ERA and a total of 440 saves, which is fifth in major league history and second behind Detroit’s Kenley Jansen (489) among active players.
Kimbrel has walked 362 and struck out 1,314 in 855 1/3 innings over 884 regular-season games — all in relief. He is third among active pitchers in games played and tied for 33rd all-time.
He was the National League Reliever of the Year in 2014 and the AL Reliever of the Year in 2017. He won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and was voted to nine All-Star Games in 2011-14, 2016-18, 2021 and 2023.
After making his major league debut at age 21 in 2010, Kimbrel led the NL in saves for four straight seasons with the Atlanta Braves, starting with his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2011.