Baltimore Orioles Part Ways with Craig Kimbrel

After agreeing on a one-year, $13 million deal with Craig Kimbrel in December, the Baltimore Orioles are parting ways with the Future Hall of Famer, and designating him for assignment.

The team announced the move on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In what will go down as his final appearance with the Orioles, Kimbrel gave up six runs in just two-thirds of the ninth inning of a September 17 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Kimbrel registered a 10.59 ERA since the All-Star Break and had seemingly lost his job as Baltimore’s go-to closer in save situations before his disastrous outing against the Giants. His 31 RBIs allowed this year are the second-most of his career.

It’s unclear whether or not the 36-year-old will pursue another opportunity this season, with the playoffs only weeks away. But with a storied resume like Kimbrel’s it’s unlikely he’ll stay unemployed.

Baltimore recalled righty Bryan Baker as a part of the transaction. He’s pitched 21 innings in MLB this season and has a 4.71 ERA.

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Brandon Hyde on DFA’ing Craig Kimbrel: ‘Tough Day’

Kimbrel’s struggles with the Orioles doesn’t alter his championship pedigree. Nor the respect that comes with that throughout the dugout.

Team skipper Brandon Hyde told reporters that it’s a tough day for Baltimore, after the team designated the Future Hall of Famer.

“Tough day,” Hyde said on September 18, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. “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. So it’s never easy to say goodbye to somebody who’s done a lot.”

Hyde went on to credit a slow second half for Kimbrel’s ultimate failure with the Orioles.

“I just think he never got rolling in the second half,” Hyde continued. “He had that one reset in the first half and that really helped him. He had a lot of success for two months just closing out and 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 never got rolling after the All-Star break after that.”

Kimbrel was lights out in the first half of the year. Over his 39 appearances prior to the All-Star Break, he recorded a 2.80 ERA through 35.1 innings pitched, striking out 53 of his 141 batters faced.

In his 18 appearances since, Kimbrel posted a 10.59 ERA over 17 innings.

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James McCann on Craig Kimbrel: He ‘Meant A Lot To This Team’

Backup catcher James McCann spoke with reporters following Kimbrel’s dismissal. He echoed a lot of what Hyde said previously, but from a player’s perspective.

“It’s tough walking in and seeing his locker empty,” McCann said, according to Kubatko. “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 this clubhouse, being a veteran guy, fun-loving guy, made the clubhouse a better place.”

McCann went on to compare the experience to that of being teammates with Francisco Rodriguez.

“I caught Francisco Rodríguez at the end of his career,” McCann continued. “When he first up he was blowing 100 by everyone, and by the end of his career he was throwing more changeups than he was fastballs because his fastball was 88-to-91. So that’s something that happens to a lot of guys is they have to figure out a new pitch repertoire. Obviously they’re not changing pitches but maybe their usage, and that was something that he battled and maybe tried to fix, and unfortunately it just didn’t happen quick enough or didn’t happen.”

Kimbrel had been struggling for some time. His last save came in July. For a Baltimore team hurting in so many areas, and already down multiple pitchers, it’s addition by subtraction with playoffs just weeks away.

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