Craig Kimbrel expressed a bit of urgency after joining the Baltimore Orioles.
“They want to win, and they want to win now. I don’t know how many more years I got to do this, and go out there and sling the ball,” the 35-year-old closer said Thursday. “I want to be a part of a winner. I want to be part of a great opportunity and be comfortable doing it.”
After winning 101 games and an AL East title, the Orioles are now a reasonable destination for any free agent hoping for an immediate shot at the postseason, and for a reliever like Kimbrel, the opportunities go beyond that. After closer Félix Bautista had Tommy John surgery, Baltimore had a significant need in the bullpen, one that the Orioles tried to fill by acquiring Kimbrel on a $13 million, one-year deal.
Kimbrel has a $12 million salary next year, and Baltimore has a $13 million team option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout. He can earn $1 million in performance bonuses next year, $500,000 for games and $500,000 for games finished. Kimbrel would get $100,000 each for 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 in each category.
Bautista had 33 saves and a 1.48 ERA last season but did not pitch after Aug. 25.
“It’s hard to replace someone like him. What he did last year was absolutely spectacular,” Kimbrel said. “To come in and to fill those shoes and keep this team on a good roll, I fully expect to do that. That’s why I signed here. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole career.”
Kimbrel joins a bullpen that still includes All-Star Yennier Cano. Kimbrel went 8-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 23 saves last year for the Philadelphia Phillies, who reached the NL Championship Series. It was the ninth year Kimbrel pitched in the postseason. He won a World Series with Boston in 2018.
Last year’s playoffs went fine for Kimbrel until the NLCS. After a save in Game 1 against Arizona, Kimbrel took the loss in Games 3 and 4, squandering a two-run lead in the eighth inning of the latter. Philadelphia went on to lose the series in…
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