Former Phillies All-Star Agrees to Sign With AL Contender
By Thomas Erbe
Former Philadelphia Phillies bullpen piece Craig Kimbrel has agreed to sign a one-year, $13 million deal to join the Baltimore Orioles. The deal also has an option for the 2025 season.
Kimbrel only spent one year in Philadelphia with the Phillies. He also a representative for the team at the All-Star Game in Seattle. In 71 appearances in 2023, he had 23 saves in 69 innings pitched. Baltimore will be his fifth different team he's played for in the last four years.
Orioles, RHP Craig Kimbrel agree to 1-year deal with an option for 2025, per @MLBNetwork insider @Joelsherman1. pic.twitter.com/UTK1roKg8b
— MLB (@MLB) December 6, 2023
Phillies: former closer is headed to Baltimore
Stability has been hard to find in the league for the former Rookie of the Year and nine-time All-Star. His production and reliability have both declined significantly in the last few years.
Phillies fans will be the first to tell you there is no such thing as a clean inning with Kimbrel on the mound. Many of his saves this past season came after giving up a couple of key walks or hits to make the end a little more tense than usual. He blew five saves in the regular season, and the struggle continued from there.
Kimbrel, unfortunately, had trouble when it mattered most. His 2023 postseason numbers were not ideal. In four outings, he only lasted 3 innings and gave up 4 runs.
He'll look to bounce back with a team that is ready to win. The Orioles were the breakout team of the year last year and have a roster that is ready to compete. Kimbrel will provide a veteran arm in the bullpen that will hopefully prove reliable.
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