Baltimore Orioles Part Ways with Closer Craig Kimbrel Following Rocky Season

The Baltimore Orioles have made a significant roster move by designating Craig Kimbrel for assignment. This decision comes after Kimbrel, a seasoned 36-year-old closer, struggled significantly in the second half of the season. Despite being on a one-year, $13 million contract, his performance left much to be desired, culminating in a disheartening display against the San Francisco Giants where he allowed six runs.

Prior to this, Kimbrel had faced challenges as his role transitioned away from being the team’s primary closer. His performance post-July 14 led to a decline, with five home runs conceded over 18 innings, along with 25 runs and 23 hits on top of 17 walks. These difficulties were marked by a daunting 10.59 ERA in the latter part of the season, a stark contrast to his initial average of 2.10.

Originally brought on board due to the injury to Félix Bautista, Kimbrel had a promising start. However, his mid-season downturn was reminiscent of his struggles in the previous playoffs while with the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite his challenging stint, Kimbrel’s career statistics remain impressive, with a 2.59 ERA and an average of 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 15 seasons.

Kimbrel’s career highlights include his rank as fifth on the all-time saves list with 440 saves, just six behind Kenley Jansen. His legacy also includes four straight years leading the National League in saves from 2011 to 2014, and nine All-Star selections, cementing his status as a notable pitcher.

The decision to remove Kimbrel from the roster, with Bryan Baker stepping up, came as the Orioles looked to strengthen their position for a postseason run. The timing of this decision, so close to the end of the season, indicates a commitment to performance over sentiment, a move applauded by some within the organization.

This development does cause some tension within the team, with players like Corbin Burnes expressing concern over losing Kimbrel’s clubhouse leadership. Nonetheless, the Orioles remain focused on the immediate objective of making a strong postseason push, as they currently trail the New York Yankees by four-and-a-half games in the American League East.