Craig Kimbrel is heading back to where it all began. The veteran closer has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. That’s right—the same team where he became one of the most dominant relievers in baseball over a decade ago.
A Roller-Coaster Ride to Get Here
Kimbrel’s return to Atlanta comes after a bumpy stretch in his career, most recently with the Baltimore Orioles. His time there didn’t exactly go as planned. The O’s designated him for assignment in September 2024 after an up-and-down season that saw him post a 5.33 ERA in 57 appearances.
He looked solid early on, carrying a 2.10 ERA into July, but things unraveled fast. From July 14 to September 17, his ERA ballooned to 11.50, making it clear that Baltimore had lost faith in him as their go-to closer.
And this isn’t the first time Kimbrel has battled inconsistency in recent years. His 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Chicago Cubs were rough (6.53 and 5.28 ERA, respectively), but then he turned back the clock in 2021, posting a jaw-dropping 0.49 ERA in 39 appearances.
Just when it seemed like he was back, he struggled again after being traded to the White Sox. The same pattern followed with the Dodgers in 2022 (solid) and the Phillies in 2023 (another All-Star season) before things fell apart in Baltimore.
Atlanta Isn’t Getting 2010-2014 Kimbrel
Now 36 years old, Kimbrel isn’t the same lights-out closer who dominated for the Braves. From 2010 to 2014 he logged a microscopic 1.43 ERA and 186 saves.
He was nearly untouchable in those years, earning four All-Star selections and establishing himself as one of the best relievers of his generation.
Realistically, the Braves aren’t bringing him back expecting that version of Kimbrel. But if they can get something close to his 2023 All-Star form with the Phillies—when he posted a 3.26 ERA with 23 saves—they’ll take it.
The Braves Bullpen Gets a Familiar Boost
Atlanta’s bullpen is already a strong unit. Adding in Craig Kimbrel brings veteran experience, familiarity, and a potential late-inning weapon. Even is he just serves as a high-leverage setup man, this move is as much about depth as it is about his relationship with the Braves.
Kimbrel is a nine-time All-Star, and a World Series champion. H also still has the kind of strikeout stuff that can play in the late innings. The Braves are banking on the idea that there’s still something left in the tank. And if there is, this reunion could be exactly what Kimbrel needs to end his career on a high note.
