Royals sign 9X All-Star closer after Mets, Rays stintsoriginally appeared onThe Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as aPreferred
The Kansas City Royals have added a potential future Hall of Famer to their bullpen.
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On Sunday, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that right-hander Craig Kimbrel has signed a Major League contract with the AL Central club.
The Royals will become Kimbrel’s third team of the season, as he also spent time with the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
In 33.2 combined innings with the Mets and Rays, Kimbrel posted a 4.81 ERA and struck out 22.2% of the batters he faced.
Kansas City will be Kimbrel’s 12th organization of his career. He made his debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and became one of MLB’s most dominant closers.
From 2011-14, Kimbrel earned four consecutive All-Star selections and led the National League in saves each year.
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The 38-year-old ranks fifth on the all-time saves list with 440, 38 behind Lee Smith’s 478.
Amazingly, there are three active closers in the top 10 for saves. Kenley Jansen (489 SV) is with the Detroit Tigers, Aroldis Chapman (394 SV) with the Boston Red Sox, and Kimbrel with the Royals.
Kimbrel recorded his most recent save in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles, so the odds he catches up to Smith appear to be slim.
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