Craig Kimbrel is making his way back to the Atlanta Braves for the first time since just before Opening Day in 2015. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Braves have signed Kimbrel to a minor league deal.
During his time in Atlanta, Kimbrel was among the top relievers in baseball. Since then, he has played for the Padres, Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, and Orioles. His most recent stint in Baltimore didn’t go well, as he posted a 5.33 ERA (136 ERA-) and a 4.18 FIP (104 FIP-) over 52.1 innings. That led to him being left off the Orioles’ postseason roster, and the team declined its club option, making him a free agent.
Mark Bowman of MLB.com confirmed the signing, noting that Kimbrel will begin the season with the Gwinnett Stripers rather than making the Braves’ Opening Day roster. That isn’t too surprising, given that he hadn’t signed with a team yet this offseason.
However, given his track record, it was only a matter of time before someone took a chance on him. Last season, the Orioles valued him enough to sign him for $12 million with a club option, though they ultimately chose not to exercise it.
Now, Kimbrel’s first MLB team is bringing him back. While his return to the Braves’ bullpen isn’t immediate, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that he’ll earn $2 million once he’s ready to join Atlanta’s relief corps. Fans shouldn’t expect the dominant closer of years past, but it’ll still be exciting to see him in a Braves uniform again.
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