Per accounts from ESPN, the Houston Astros have reached an agreement with seasoned right-handed relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel on a major-league deal. Information from MLB.com indicates Kimbrel is slated to become an official member of the team this Friday, during their away series comprising four games against the Orioles.
Kimbrel, at age 37, initially entered into a minor-league pact with the Braves this past March. However, he was subsequently let go in early June, having participated in just a single game for the major-league squad. Since then, Kimbrel spent time pitching in the minors for the Rangers, until they opted to release him earlier in the day on Thursday. Over a combined total of 39 innings pitched within both the Braves’ and Rangers’ systems during the current season, Kimbrel has maintained an ERA of 3.69, accompanied by 51 strikeouts offset by 21 walks issued. In 2024, Kimbrel’s primary activity was with Baltimore in the majors, where he recorded a 5.33 ERA across 52 1/3 innings, struggling notably with his command.
Kimbrel, credited with 440 career saves and anticipated to be a serious contender for entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the future, had previously established himself as one of the most dominant relief pitchers of recent times. However, in recent years, the nine-time All-Star’s performance has lacked sustained consistency at his peak levels.
From the perspective of the Astros, securing Kimbrel’s services serves as a direct countermeasure to the situation involving lockdown closer Josh Hader, who is projected to be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season due to a shoulder ailment. Considering the trade deadline’s prior passage, the Astros’ alternatives for Hader’s replacement were notably scarce. The precise role Kimbrel will assume, whether immediately stepping into high-pressure situations or initially operating in a less critical position within the bullpen hierarchy, remains to be seen.
Kimbrel is set to join Houston, a team currently holding first place, though their advantage over the Mariners, who are in second place, is quite narrow, standing at just 1 1/2 games.
