Royals Sign Veteran Pitcher Craig Kimbrel

The Kansas City Royals have added veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel to their roster, according to a report by Jon Heyman from the New York Post. This signing marks a new chapter for Kimbrel, who has played for 11 other teams throughout his 17-year Major League Baseball career.

Kimbrel's recent performance includes a 4.81 ERA over 33 2/3 innings with the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays this season. After starting the year with a minor league deal with the Mets, he was designated for assignment in May, opted for free agency, and subsequently signed with the Rays, only to face a similar fate last weekend.

Despite a challenging recent track record, including a 4.78 ERA since the beginning of the 2024 season, the Royals are taking a low-risk chance on the 38-year-old pitcher. With one of the weakest bullpens in baseball, Kansas City hopes Kimbrel can provide valuable innings and potentially revive his past success, as he holds the fifth-highest career saves total in MLB history with 440.