Craig Kimbrel’s Unexpected Comeback: Mets Ink Former Closer to Minor League Deal—What This Means for 2024!

So here’s the latest buzz swirling around the Mets — they’ve just inked a deal with Craig Kimbrel on Saturday night, per Jon Heyman. It’s a minor league contract, but with a Spring Training invite, offering Kimbrel a shot at the big leagues once again. Meaning, if he makes the cut, the veteran reliever is looking at a $2.5 million base salary, as reported by Will Sammon. Now, Kimbrel isn’t some rookie trying to make a name; at 37, he’s a seasoned closer with a jaw-dropping 440 saves over fifteen seasons and a career ERA sitting snugly at 2.58 — that’s some elite company. He actually kicked off his career with the Braves, the Mets’ NL East adversaries, and boy, did he leave a mark facing New York — 46 appearances, 30 saves, and an astonishing 1.46 ERA against the Amazin’s. Looking at where Kimbrel has been since those Braves days — hopping from Padres to Red Sox, Cubs, and bouncing through a handful of teams after — it’s clear the guy’s a bullpen journeyman. But don’t write him off just yet; last season, in a mere 12 innings, he struck out batters at nearly his typical clip and kept his ERA impressively low. For the Mets, adding Kimbrel is another strategic move while they puzzle out their bullpen’s future, and for him, it’s a genuine chance to keep that Hall of Fame dream alive. Spring Training is shaping up to be a storyline worth following. LEARN MORE

The Mets, who are always on the lookout for pitching depth, came to an agreement with Craig Kimbrel Saturday night, according to Jon Heyman. It is a minor league deal for Kimbrel, with an invite to MLB Spring Training. He will make $2.5m in base salary if he does make the team, according to Will Sammon.

Kimbrel, 37, likely needs little introduction to those reading this. He is in the twilight seasons of an excellent career, to say the very least. He has amassed 440 saves across 15 seasons with a 2.58 ERA, making him one of the premier relievers in the game during his prime. He started his career with the NL East rival Atlanta Braves, where Mets fans saw plenty of him — he has made 46 appearances against the Mets, earning 30 saves and a 1.46 ERA against those appearances.

Kimbrel has since bounced around since he left the Braves via trade early in the 2015 seasons, when he was dealt to the Padres alongside Melvin Upton Jr. for Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, and Matt Wisler when he was a prospect (an excellent trade for Remembering Some Guys). He spent a year in San Diego before being dealt again, this time to the Red Sox, in exchange for Manuel Margot. After three years in Boston, he spent three years with the Cubs, and truly became a jouneyman, appearing in Major League games with the White Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, and Orioles, before splitting 2025 between the Braves and Astros.

Kimbrel can still miss bats despite his age, notching a 34.7% strikeout rate in 14 games (12 innings) last year, which is pretty closely in line with his career 38.8% strikeout rate. He also had a 2.25 ERA in those 12 innings, as well as a 3.00 ERA in 42 minor league games with the Braves and Rangers (who he did not appear in a Major League game with last year), acquitting himself well enough to get another chance in 2026.

For the Mets, Kimbrel gives them another interesting arm to throw at the wall while they continue to map out what the middle and front end of their bullpen looks like. For Kimbrel, the Mets give him a legitimate chance to continue his potentially Hall of Fame career, considering parts of their bullpen are not set in stone. It will be a fun side story during Spring Training.