The New York Mets are in the middle of a three-game weekend series with the Athletics. They are 7-7 this season, and dropped game one of the series 4-0. The Mets have lost three consecutive games, but will be getting pitching reinforcements for Saturday’s contest.
According to NY Post reporter Jon Heyman, the New York Mets are recalling nine-time MLB All-Star and veteran pitcher Craig Kimbrel to their big league roster. The corresponding move is Richard Lovelady being designated for assignment. It’s the ninth time in his seven-year MLB career that he’s been DFA’d.
Kimbrel signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the offseason and decided to stay within the team’s minor league system with hopes of getting another big-league opportunity. Well, here it is. In 2025, Kimbrel pitched with the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, and the Mets will be Kimbrel’s 10th MLB team he’s pitched for.
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the New York Mets poses for a photo during the New York Mets Photo Day at Clover Park on February 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
New York Mets Recall Craig Kimbrel
It’s unclear how much Craig Kimbrel will actually pitch with the Mets, but at this point, they could use him.
The 16-year MLB veteran has 440 career saves and a lifetime earned run average of 2.58 in 851 games pitched. Definitely en route to the Hall of Fame as a reliever, but Kimbrel, at the age of 37, clearly wants to keep his career alive.
Still a fairly serviceable reliever, Kimbrel might be able to provide the Mets with some meaningful innings. In his last season with a *full body of work* (2024), he posted an ugly 5.33 ERA with the Baltimore Orioles, but Kimbrel was an All-Star in 2023 and had a quality season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022.
GettyCraig Kimbrel has not had a good spring training for the Mets.
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More Mets’ Notes
After a couple game stretch where the New York Mets appeared to be okay offensively without Juan Soto, it’s been a completely different story in the last three games. New York has scored just three runs in the last 27 innings.
Jorge Polanco may be injured or battling a lingering injury, and Clay Holmes had to be removed from his start on Friday.
As for Kimbrel, again, it will be a very interesting storyline to see how he is utilized by manager Carlos Mendoza, but his leash might be short due to various factors.
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New York Mets Recall Craig Kimbrel, DFA Richard Lovelady Before Athletics Game