Craig Kimbrell Joins the Astros
Craig Kimbrell, now 37, is making his return to Major League Baseball. He signed a deal with the Houston Astros on Thursday, as reported by ESPN.
This contract with Houston marks Kimbrell’s ninth team in the major leagues, and notably, his seventh since 2021.
Earlier this season, Kimbrell played for the Braves but made just a single appearance before being designated for assignment in June.
In the two months that followed, he pitched for the Rangers’ Triple A affiliate, holding a 3.86 ERA and striking out 28 over 21 innings.
The Astros’ decision to bring Kimbrell on board comes after a noticeable decline in their bullpen performance since the second half of the season began. Since July 1, the Astros’ pitching staff has struggled, posting a troubling 4.69 ERA, ranking them sixth worst in the MLB during that time.
Previously, Kimbrell’s last full season was with the Orioles in 2024, where he finished with a 5.33 ERA and 23 saves over 57 games before being designated for assignment in September.
Despite the challenges, Kimbrell made an impact with the Phillies, appearing in an All-Star Game and playing a role in their run to the NL Championship Series.
Drafted by the Braves in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Kimbrell led the National League in saves during his first four seasons from 2011 to 2014.
With a career ERA of 2.59 over his 16 years in the league, he ranks second in saves among the 440 active players currently.
Unfortunately, his brief return to Atlanta this season drew criticism from fans, who felt he was treated unfairly by the management. Former MLB general manager Dave Samson suggested that Kimbrell was likely aware of his situation, implying that the Braves may have communicated their intentions to him ahead of time.
“For whatever reason, you get the impression that Craig Kimbrell is upset about this,” Samson commented on a recent podcast. “It seems as though the Braves hadn’t fully communicated with him.”
