The Atlanta Braves have signed closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel to a minor league deal. Kimbrel, who turns 37 in May, was drafted by the Braves in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft and quickly became a fan favorite in Atlanta from 2010-2014. The Huntsville, AL native, now as a 9-time All-Star and with the 5th-most saves in Major League history, rejoins a Braves team that he grew up rooting for. As spring training comes to a close, the Braves have made several decisions regarding the bullpen, optioning Chasen Shreve and Buck Farmer to Triple-A Gwinnett, trading Angel Perdomo to the Angels and cutting Jake Diekman. The Braves also added former Phillies closer Hector Neris recently, as the Braves look to fill the void left by the departed A.J. Minter and the injured Joe Jimenez.
“It’s gonna be neat,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It’ll be good to see him. I love Craig.” Snitker was the Braves’ third-base coach during Kimbrel’s early career.
In just five seasons with the team, Kimbrel compiled more saves than any Braves pitcher in franchise history. In his 2011 rookie season, Kimbrel was unanimously voted National League Rookie of the Year over teammate Freddie Freeman, who finished second. It was the second consecutive year a Braves player had won the award after outfielder Jason Heyward won in 2010. During his tenure with the team, Kimbrel had 186 saves and an earned run average of just 1.43 and recieved an All-Star nomination in all four full seasons. He also became well-known for his dramatic entrance from the bullpen. The scoreboards would go black, “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses would play and a fiery graphic would appear on all video boards at Turner Field.
“If [Kimbrel] stays healthy, I think he has the potential to be one of the best [closers] ever. He throws 100 mph and he’s got an 88-mph breaking ball that breaks like a 78-mph slider. It’s a big break, but it’s hard. The potential is there for him to be great, not just really good. He’s the best [closer] I’ve played with.” – former Braves pitcher Tim Hudson in 2011
After the Braves’ disappointing 2014 season, the team traded most of their star players as they began rebuilding. Kimbrel and outfielder B.J. Upton were traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielders Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin, pitcher Matt Wisler, pitching prospect Jordan Paroubeck and the 41st overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. The Braves notably used this draft pick to draft infielder Austin Riley. Kimbrel spent one year with the Padres before being traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he spent three seasons, earning a World Series victory in 2018 and an All-Star selection each year. He signed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Chicago Cubs in 2019, where injuries interrupted Kimbrel’s run of dominance that year and in 2020. In 2021, Kimbrel bounced back, earning another All-Star selection before being traded from the North Side to the South Side of Chicago and joined the White Sox to close out the 2021 season. After a solid 2022 season with the Dodgers and an All-Star season in 2023 with the Phillies, Kimbrel had the worst full season of his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, giving up 31 earned runs in 52.1 innings pitched.
On Thursday, the Braves signed outfielder Alex Verdugo to a one-year Major League contract worth $1.5 million. The club immediately optioned him to Triple-A, as he has not yet had a spring training, and will likely join the big-league team in April. Ronald Acuña Jr. is anticipated to return in May, and until then, Jurickson Profar, Michael Harris II and Jarred Kelenic are expected to be the starting three in the outfield. Verdugo, Bryan De La Cruz and Eli White will be in the mix for a fourth outfield spot.
In addition, the Braves have also added a catcher. The club signed catcher James McCann to a Minor League deal on Monday. McCann, who is not related to Braves future Hall of Famer Brian McCann, is an 11-year MLB veteran with four different teams, including a 2019 All-Star campaign and back-to-back years of above average production with the Orioles. Starting catcher Sean Murphy is out for several weeks with a cracked rib and the club’s two remaining catchers on the roster are top prospect Drake Baldwin and Chadwick Tromp after releasing Curt Casali last week.
