Nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel joined his 10th major league team when the New York Mets selected his contract from Class A St. Lucie. A 37-year-old…<\/p>\n
NEW YORK(AP) \u2014 Nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel joined his 10th major league team Saturday when the New York Mets selected his contract from Class A St. Lucie.<\/p>\n
A 37-year-old right-hander, Smith is fifth in the career saves behind Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601) along with Lee Smith and Kenley Jansen (both 478).<\/p>\n
Kimbrel replaced mop-up man Richard Lovelady, who was designated for assignment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the game calls for a high leverage, I\u2019m not going to hesitate,\u201d manager manager Carlos Mendoza said of Kimbrel. \u201cWell on his way to being a Hall of Famer. It\u2019s not like a guy that\u2019s coming up to the big leagues for the first time. He\u2019s been in those roles for a long time and had a pretty successful career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kimbrel had a 2.25 ERA in 14 games last season with Atlanta and Houston.<\/p>\n
He agreed in January to a deal with the Mets that specified if he was added to the 40-man roster he would get a $2.5 million salary while in the major leagues and a $350,000 salary while in the minors. While in the majors, he can earn $1 million in performance bonuses for games pitched: $200,000 each for 20 and each additional five through 40.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy body feels good,\u201d Kimbrel said. \u201cReady to take the ball and do whatever I need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kimbrel hasn\u2019t gotten a save since July 7, 2024, with Baltimore. He had a sore back late in the season and had an 11.50 ERA in his final 19 appearances.<\/p>\n
He pitched a scoreless inning for St. Lucie on Tuesday in his only minor league appearance this year. He threw nine pitches: six fastballs that averaged 93.5 mph along with one each of a cutter, sweeper and knuckle-curve. <\/p>\n
\u201cI get an adrenaline boost every time I get an opportunity to pitch in a big league ballgame,\u201d Kimbrel said. \u201cSomebody told me a long time go as soon as that goes away, it\u2019s time to go home. And I still have that excitement and driven to go out there and compete and put on a jersey and represent a city, wherever that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mendoza said right-hander Clay Holmes, who left Friday’s 4-0 loss to the Athletics with one out in the sixth inning because of left hamstring tightness, is in line to take his next rotation turn. Mendoza said Holmes had normal post-start soreness and underwent testing that showed no damage to the hamstring.<\/p>\n