Orioles Part Ways With Potential Future Hall-of-Famer Craig Kimbrel

Pitcher Craig Kimbrel No. 46 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after being relieved in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md., on Sept. 17, 2024. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Baltimore Orioles were hoping that Craig Kimbrel could recapture some of his former glory as a closer when they signed him to a $12 million contract before the 2024 season.

However, Kimbrel could not develop consistency for Baltimore, and he was designated for assignment on Wednesday, meaning he was immediately removed from the 40-man roster.

Kimbrel, 36, came to Baltimore with an impressive background, amassing 440 saves over 837 career games. He pitched well in spurts for Baltimore, but his overall performance was disappointing. He finished his time at the club with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves.

“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,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said moments after it was announced Kimbrel had been DFA'd. “So it’s never easy to say goodbye to somebody who’s done a lot.”

The Orioles (84–68) were desperate for a closer after All-Star Félix Bautista had to undergo Tommy John surgery last year and was ruled out for the 2024 season.

Kimbrel was solid throughout much of the first half, and the Orioles were encouraged by the performance. Prior to the All-Star break, Kimbrel had 23 saves and a 2.80 ERA over 39 appearances.

However, the second half of the season told a different story.

Kimbrel struggled with his command and velocity. He also got behind hitters, which added pressure on him in the ninth inning. Kimbrel never appeared comfortable on the mound, and he had a 10.59 ERA, with 20 strikeouts and 15 walks in his final 18 appearances with the team. He also did not record a save over that span.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias did not have much choice but to part ways with Kimbrel. Baltimore now has seven days to either trade or place him on outright or unconditional release waivers.

“I just think he never got rolling in the second half,” Hyde said at a pre-game press conference on Wednesday. “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’s struggles coincided with the team’s overall performance. The Orioles were in first place with a 49–25 record on June 20, but they have gone 26–30 since the All-Star break.

Entering Wednesday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, the Orioles now trail the New York Yankees by 5 games in the AL East with 10 games remaining. Baltimore is also clinging to the top spot in the Wild Card standing by just 1.5 games over the Kansas City Royals.

Injuries have played a key role in the Orioles’ troubles. The team has four starting pitchers—Kyle Bradish, John Means, Tyler Wells, and Grayson Rodriguez—on the Injured List. All-Star third baseman Jordan Westburg has also been out since July 31 with a broken wrist.

Nonetheless, it’s been a precipitous fall for Baltimore, and the schedule does not get any easier. The Orioles close out the regular season with games against three playoff-caliber teams: the Detroit Tigers, Yankees, and Minnesota Twins.

Kimbrel has Hall-of-Fame-caliber stats with 440 saves, but he was not able to equal that production for the Orioles, who are now moving on without him.