ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays added nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to their roster this week, banking on the veteran’s 440 career saves to stabilize a bullpen that ranks 21st in the Majors with a 4.40 ERA despite the club owning the American League’s best record.
Kimbrel, who will turn 38 Thursday, struck out two batters in his Rays debut, wearing No. 46. “That was pretty cool. Stuff looked really good,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Came in, filled up the strike zone. I think he can definitely help us.”
The right-hander was designated for assignment by the New York Mets last Friday after going 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings. He cleared waivers, declined a Minor League assignment and became a free agent before the Rays moved quickly to sign him. “I couldn’t be happier to be here,” Kimbrel said. “It’s an amazing opportunity, and I’m trying to make the best of it.”
To make room on the active roster, right-handed pitcher Jesse Scholtens was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right wrist strain. Cash said the Rays aren’t “overly concerned” about Scholtens, but he was sent back to the Tampa Bay area for further evaluation. The Rays have spent the entire season without right-handers Edwin Uceta, Manuel Rodríguez and Steven Wilson, and right-hander Cole Sulser is currently sidelined by a low back strain.
Kimbrel’s résumé is among the most decorated in relief pitching history: 440 saves — fifth-most all-time — with a 2.64 ERA and 1,299 strikeouts in 866 appearances across 17 seasons. He is a 2018 World Series champion, the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year Award winner, and won both the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in 2014 and the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year in 2017. “Definitely a guy that we’ve talked about and we’ve kind of admired from the other dugout or on the mound when he’s pitching,” Cash said. “I think with our opportunity, and us being a little beat up in the bullpen right now, it made a lot of sense. So, happy to welcome him here.”
Kimbrel hasn’t pitched at the back end of a bullpen since 2024, when he recorded 23 saves with the Baltimore Orioles before being released in September 2024. He bounced from the Braves to the Rangers to the Astros before landing with the Mets on a Minor League deal in January. “The New York Mets organization treated me really well,” Kimbrel said. “I really enjoyed my time there. But it’s the way things presented themselves. In baseball, sometimes things don’t work out. This is a great opportunity for me, so I hope I can make it work.”
Left-hander Steven Matz, who lives near Kimbrel in the Nashville area during the offseason, endorsed the addition. “He’s a great guy. I remember watching him throw this offseason like, ‘Wow, he’s still got a lot left in the tank,’” Matz said. “It’s great to have someone with that much experience here. Great addition.”
Cash said the Rays have not yet defined Kimbrel’s bullpen role but praised what the veteran brings beyond the mound. “From everything we’ve heard for many years about the teammate he is, the quality of person, I would expect he’s going to be a great influence for a lot of guys,” Cash said. “Nobody’s lived it even remotely close to what he’s done out in the bullpen, and that’s another part in how happy we are to have him.” Kimbrel said he is eager to tap into the club’s pitching development infrastructure. “Some of the analytical things they do here, pitch-shaping and just understanding how to get guys to swing-and-miss is really good here,” he said. “They’ve already said they have some things for me, so I’m excited to go through that and then see what it brings.”