The Baltimore Orioles are getting close to signing veteran closer Craig Kimbrel, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney on Wednesday.
Baltimore has a pressing need since All-Star closer Felix Bautista is likely out for the 2024 season after Tommy John surgery. He went on the injured list in August.
Kimbrel was one of the dominant shut-down closers of the 2010s, making seven All-Star appearances and accumulating an unbelievable 332 saves, at least 68 more than any other active closer, while pitching for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox from 2011 to 2018.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 35-year-old right-hander navigated that eight-year stretch with a sparkling 1.97 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP and a rate of 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings with a devastating heater-curveball combo. He has since posted a 3.57 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP and a 13.0 strikeout rate with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
Kimbrel made two more All-Star teams from 2019 to 2023, including this past season with the Phillies, when he posted a 3.26 ERA, saved 23 games and struck out 94 batters in 69 regular-season innings.
The sheer and utter dominance of his 20s, however, has mostly eluded Kimbrel in his 30s. His lasting image in Philadelphia was blowing a two-run lead in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, paving the way for the Phillies’ shocking elimination against the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks, who eventually lost to the Texas Rangers in the Fall Classic.
The Orioles came out of nowhere last season, winning an American League-best 101 games. They won the AL East before flaming out and being swept by the Rangers in the division series. Many preseason projections had them finishing in the basement of the division.
