{"id":695515,"date":"2026-05-26T19:36:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T19:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/695515\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T19:36:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T19:36:35","slug":"craig-kimbrel-to-rays-on-mlb-contract-will-nine-time-all-star-get-save-chances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/695515\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig Kimbrel to Rays on MLB contract: Will nine-time All-Star get save chances?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Craig Kimbrel wasn’t out of work for long, and he even got a nice boost in the standings.<\/p>\n

Kimbrel, 37, signed a major league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays<\/a> on Tuesday, May 26, The Athletic first reported, just four days after the New York Mets<\/a> designated him for assignment. Ranked fifth on the all-time saves list, Kimbrel posted a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances for the Mets<\/a> and did not earn a save.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

But ninth-inning chances might be more plentiful with Tampa Bay, and the Rays are in first place in the American League East, and not the cellar of the National League East. Tampa Bay has mixed and matched with veteran right-hander Bryan Baker recording 14 saves, but lefty Ian Seymour and a half-dozen others have saved games.<\/p>\n

The Rays could use the immediate help – they played 13 innings on Monday in losing 9-7 to the Baltimore Orioles.<\/p>\n

Kimbrel’s 440 career saves are second among active players, trailing Detroit’s Kenley Jansen, who has saved 483 games. The Rays will be his 11th major league team, and his eighth in the past six seasons.<\/p>\n

1 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

1 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

2 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

(David Richard, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

3 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.<\/p>\n

(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

4 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day<\/a> during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

5 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.<\/p>\n

(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

6 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.<\/p>\n

(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

7 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n

(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

8 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.<\/p>\n

(David Dermer, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

9 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

10 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.<\/p>\n

(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

11 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut<\/a> in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

12 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Eric Canha, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

13 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

14 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

15 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

16 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

17 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.<\/p>\n

(John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

18 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Su\u00e1rez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

19 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)\"\"<\/p>\n

20 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)\"\"<\/p>\n

21 \/ 21<\/p>\n

Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season<\/p>\n

Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day<\/a> game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)MLB all-time saves list<\/p>\n

(Through Monday, May 25)<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

Mariano Rivera \u2013 652 saves<\/p>\n

Trevor Hoffman \u2013 601 saves<\/p>\n

Kenley Jansen \u2013 483 saves (active)<\/p>\n

Craig Kimbrel \u2013 440 saves<\/p>\n

Francisco Rodr\u00edguez \u2013 437 saves<\/p>\n

John Franco \u2013 424 saves<\/p>\n

Billy Wagner \u2013 422 saves<\/p>\n

Dennis Eckersley \u2013 390 saves<\/p>\n

Aroldis Chapman \u2013 379 saves (active)<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Craig Kimbrel contract with Rays could impact Hall of Fame stats<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Craig Kimbrel wasn’t out of work for long, and he even got a nice boost in the standings.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":695516,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[68418,15290,3966,18216,49,48,51997,8823,23691,78914,16153,38365,462,170847,475,82,28240,480,52175],"class_list":["post-695515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-american-league-east","tag-aroldis-chapman","tag-baltimore-orioles","tag-bryan-baker","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-craig-kimbrel","tag-detroit","tag-francisco-rodriguez","tag-ian-seymour","tag-kenley-jansen","tag-mariano-rivera","tag-mlb","tag-national-league-east","tag-new-york-mets","tag-sports","tag-tampa-bay","tag-tampa-bay-rays","tag-the-rays"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/695515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=695515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/695515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/695516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=695515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=695515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=695515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}