Report: Craig Kimbrel, Braves Agree to MiLB Contract; Worth $2M If He Joins MLB Roster

Craig Kimbrel is reportedly heading to a familiar team.

The veteran closer agreed to a new deal with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

ESPN's Jeff Passan added more details for Kimbrel's deal with the team he played for during the first five years of his career:

This comes after his time with the Baltimore Orioles came to a rather unceremonious end when they designated him for assignment in September 2024. He posted a 5.33 ERA and 23 saves in 57 appearances during a 2024 campaign that was defined by inconsistency.

Kimbrel tallied a 2.10 ERA up to July 7 but then finished with an 11.50 ERA in 19 games from July 14 to Sept. 17.

Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac provided the financial details behind the decision to DFA the right-hander:

Struggling to live up to expectations with Baltimore was another development in what has been an up-and-down few years for the closer. He signed with the Chicago Cubs during the 2019 season but finished with a 6.53 ERA that year before tallying a 5.28 ERA in 2020.

However, he was then an All-Star in 2021 with a 0.49 ERA in 39 appearances for the Cubs before he reverted back to his struggles with a 5.09 ERA in 24 appearances down the stretch for the Chicago White Sox after the North Siders traded him to the American League Central team.

Kimbrel was solid in 2022 for the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 3.75 ERA and then an All-Star in 2023 for the Philadelphia Phillies before his 2024 issues with the Orioles.

Still, he is one of the best relief pitchers of his generation with a resume that includes a Rookie of the Year, nine All-Star selections and a World Series crown. He was nearly automatic with a 1.43 ERA across the first five seasons of his career on the Braves from 2010 through 2014 and was an All-Star in three straight campaigns from 2016 through 2018 for the Boston Red Sox.

The 2018 Red Sox won the World Series.

It is not realistic for the Braves to expect the peak version of Kimbrel at this stage of his career considering he is 36 years old and coming off quite an inconsistent stretch. But something like the 2023 All-Star version would surely be acceptable for Atlanta with this reunion.