Craig Kimbrel, a reliever, signed a $13 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, strengthening their bullpen.
The right-hander, who turns 36 in May, will also receive performance bonuses from the agreement, which was finalized on the last day of baseball’s winter meetings. Kimbrel, who played for Philadelphia last season and was selected for the ninth All-Star team, will now be with the Orioles, his eighth team overall.
The AL East winners, the Orioles, announced on social media that a club option for 2025 is included in the contract. As All-Star closer Félix Bautista recovers from Tommy John surgery, Kimbrel fills in.
“I believe that both parties are going into this agreement with the understanding that it might last for two years. General manager of Baltimore Mike Elias expressed optimism about the situation. “The plan is for him to be the closer.”
Kimbrel pitched in 71 games for the Phillies in the previous season. He won the 2018 World Series with Boston. It was the first time he had appeared in at least 70 games since 79 in 2011 and only the second time in his career overall.
Before Philadelphia lost to Arizona in seven games, he was 8–6 this season with a 3.26 ERA and 23 saves while leading the team to the NL Championship Series. His career high of 94 strikeouts in 69 innings is tied with his 2021 total of 100 strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs and White Sox.
After 57 games, Kimbrel’s earned run average was 2.21. He performed even better in September, pitching in 12 games with an ERA of 1.50. In seven postseason games, he was 0-2 with three saves and a 6.00 ERA.
After being released from his $58 million contract with the Cubs, which included an option year in 2022, Kimbrel signed a $10 million, one-year deal with Philadelphia before the pandemic reduced its value.