The Orioles cut ties with right-hander Craig Kimbrel, their major offseason free agency acquisition, on Wednesday after the 36-year-old closer reached a new low in a disappointing second half of the season.
Kimbrel was designated for assignment to the minor leagues, though he can opt for outright free agency.
Kimbrel allowed a career-high six runs in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s loss to the San Francisco Giants, and it ballooned his ERA since July 14 to 11.50. In 18 innings, Kimbrel allowed 23 hits, 17 walks and 23 earned runs.
The Orioles recalled right-hander Bryan Baker to replace Kimbrel.
Manager Brandon Hyde called it a “tough day” after the conversation with Kimbrel. He hoped Kimbrel would be able to recover in the second half, similarly to how the pitcher rebounded from a short rough patch in the first half. But that didn’t occur, and the Orioles made the move.
“We have so much respect for Craig and his career, and what he’s done for the game, how long he’s pitched, how long he’s pitched well,” Hyde said. “It’s never easy to say goodbye to somebody who’s done a lot.”
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Baltimore signed Kimbrel for $13 million last winter to be the closer. He was viewed as a short-term replacement for Félix Bautista, who underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery at the end of the 2023 season. Although he posted an All-Star-caliber first half — he held a 2.10 ERA across his first 38 games — Kimbrel has plummeted since then.
He declined to speak to media after Tuesday’s game, according to a team spokesperson. Kimbrel has, throughout his career, been accountable for his missteps. Generally, he makes himself available to media, ready at his locker after allowing runs.
“He had a lot of success for two months,” Hyde said. “He was pitching in close games and doing a great job for us, and then right at the end of the first half, the game here against New York, that was a struggle, and then just never got rolling after the All-Star break.”
When general manager Mike Elias signed him, Kimbrel’s annual salary made him the highest-paid Orioles player since Elias was hired in 2018.
At the time, Elias said: “He is one of the best closers in baseball history at this point. He’s still got a lot in the tank. He had a really solid season last year, and we see a lot of things from a scouting perspective going forward that has us placing a pretty big bet that this guy’s going to have a really good season for us.”
For the first half of the year, the bet appeared to be a winner. Kimbrel climbed up the all-time saves list, on which he now sits at No. 5 with 440. He limited walks and found success despite a fastball that lost a touch of velocity. But, as the second half continued, Kimbrel’s fastball didn’t produce the swing-and-miss it once did. His walks rose and, with men on base, steals followed.
“I think if we go back and we just kind of look over the innings when I struggle, a lot of times it’s when I get guys on, guys start moving around, hits fall in and one thing leads to another and just not being able to get that strikeout when I need it,” Kimbrel said last week.
The decision to designate Kimbrel for assignment with little over a week left in the regular season could be more impactful in the clubhouse than on the field. Kimbrel had lost his closing role to right-hander Seranthony Domínguez and was used mostly in low-leverage situations.
But, in the clubhouse, he was the most veteran player on the team, one who appears to have a case for a Hall of Fame induction in the future. The message being sent, perhaps, is one of urgency — that no player, not even one as highly paid — with the accolades to back it up — as Kimbrel is immune to a roster shakeup. Baltimore is 26-29 in the second half.
“Tough walking in and seeing his locker empty,” said catcher James McCann. “Craig meant a lot to this team throughout the season. Arguably had an All-Star first half. Was very big for us. Who he was as a player on the field for us was important, but also who he was in the clubhouse, being a veteran guy, fun-loving guy, made the clubhouse a better place.”
Reinforcements coming
The Orioles could have two more key players nearing a return, as infielders Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías are expected to begin rehab assignments Thursday with Triple-A Norfolk. Their return would help stabilize an infield that is relying on two struggling rookies, two journeymen and Gunnar Henderson to hold it all together.
Before an errant pitch broke Westburg’s hand, he played nearly every day at second base or third base and carried a .269 average with an .815 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Urías plays both those spots as well, and prior to his sprained ankle, he was hitting .252.
Without them, Jackson Holliday has mainly played at second base, with Liván Soto occasionally appearing. Coby Mayo and Emmanuel Rivera have played third and first base. But those players are not performing at a high level. Since returning at the end of July, Holliday is hitting .196. Mayo has three hits in 37 at-bats. Soto has nine at-bats and Rivera, at .275, is the best of the bunch.
