Craig Kimbrel Reportedly Lands Rays Contract After Struggles with Mets Led to DFA

Veteran relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel has reportedly found his next landing spot.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Tuesday the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a major-league deal with the right-hander who was a free agent because he refused a minor-league assignment with the New York Mets after they designated him for assignment.

Kimbrel joined the Mets ahead of the 2026 campaign, but his time with the National League East club did not go as planned.

He posted a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances across 15 innings, which was nowhere near his peak when he was one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the league.

The 37-year-old's resume includes a Rookie of the Year, World Series crown and nine All-Star selections. He led the league in saves in four consecutive seasons with the Atlanta Braves from 2011 through 2014 and was nearly automatic every time he took the mound at that stage.

Yet the second half of his career has been defined by inconsistency.

Kimbrel had a 6.53 ERA in 2019 and 5.28 ERA in 2020 as a member of the Chicago Cubs only to become an All-Star in 2021 and again in 2023. Yet he finished the 2024 season with a 5.33 ERA as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

Last season was better with a 2.25 ERA for the Braves and Houston Astros, but he made just 14 appearances with a concerning 1.42 WHIP number that suggested his ERA likely would have been higher had he taken the mound more often.

After he was anything but effective in his brief stint with the Mets, the Rays are hoping to catch Kimbrel on a better swing amid the inconsistency he has shown for years.

Tampa Bay is in first place in the American League East, but the bullpen has been a concern at times. It is 21st in the league in bullpen ERA and needs more consistency if it is going to hold off the New York Yankees as the season continues.

Kimbrel is a headline addition, but he may not be the long-term answer for the bullpen.