NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Craig Kimbrel is coming back to where it all started with the hope of extending his career.
Kimbrel has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Braves, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the deal. The veteran reliever will make $2 million if he is added to Atlanta’s roster. The club has not confirmed the agreement.
Kimbrel set the Braves franchise record with the 186 saves he totaled from 2010-14. The 36-year-old hurler no longer stands as one of the game’s most dominant relievers. But with a bounceback year he could help fill some of the holes in Atlanta’s bullpen.
Kimbrel posted a 5.33 ERA over 57 appearances for the Orioles last year before being designated for assignment in September. He hasn’t been in camp with any club since the start of Spring Training. So, he will make necessary preparations before beginning this season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, setup man Pierce Johnson and left-handers Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer are currently the only locks for Atlanta’s bullpen. Daysbel Hernández is a near lock. Enyel De Los Santos and Hector Neris are non-roster invitees who could fill two of the remaining three spots. The last spot could be given to someone to serve as a long reliever.
The Braves play each of the first seven days of the regular season. So, the Braves could carry AJ Smith-Shawver to either make a start or be a long relief option during this span. If he makes a start, Ian Anderson could initially be tabbed the long reliever.
In Kimbrel, the Braves reunite with one of the most decorated closers ever, potentially a future Hall of Famer. He's a nine-time All-Star, most recently in 2023 with the Phillies, and has won MLB's Reliever of the Year Award in both leagues -- he was the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in 2014 with the Braves, and the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year in 2017 with the Red Sox.
Kimbrel has 440 career saves entering the 2025 season, fifth-most all-time and second-most among active closers behind Kenley Jansen.
MLB career saves leaders
- Mariano Rivera: 652
- Trevor Hoffman: 601
- Lee Smith: 478
- Kenley Jansen: 447
- Craig Kimbrel: 440
Kimbrel has amassed 1,265 career strikeouts, third-most ever as a reliever behind Hoyt Wilhelm (1,363) and Goose Gossage (1,340), and a career 14.1 K/9 that's second to only Aroldis Chapman among relievers with at least 500 appearances.
Kimbrel has led his league in saves four times and the Majors once -- that was his career-best 50-save season in 2013 -- although the last of those seasons was a decade ago. He has five 40-save seasons, fourth-most of any closer after Rivera (nine), Hoffman (nine) and Francisco Rodriguez (six), and eight 30-save seasons.
He's also been to the postseason nine times, with five different teams -- the Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox and Phillies -- and was a World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2018, closing out three of Boston's four wins over the Dodgers in the Fall Classic.
Kimbrel's most recent postseason run with the Phillies in 2023 did end on a down note. He took two losses against the D-backs in the NLCS as Philadelphia was eliminated, preceding his signing with the Orioles and his struggles in 2024.
Kimbrel posted a 1.91 ERA and was successful with 333 of 367 save opportunities (90.8 percent) from 2010-18. He has produced a 3.90 ERA and converted 107 of 137 save opportunities (80.1 percent) since the start of the 2019 season.
Kimbrel was selected by the Braves in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He remained with the organization until the eve of the 2015 season, when he was sent to the Padres in a deal that allowed the Braves to free themselves of B.J. Upton’s contract. The return included a competitive balance round pick that Atlanta used to select Austin Riley.
Supervising Club Reporter Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.
David Adler is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York.
