It’s been a struggle for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. Everyone on the club has gone through up and downs throughout the season. At times, the players on this roster have looked unstoppable. The Baltimore Orioles looked like World Series contender back in June and early July. They’ve since fallen four games behind the New York Yankees, and no one is playing at the level they think they should be. Arguably no one has been as disappointing as Craig Kimbrel.
The Baltimore Orioles announced today that they have designated reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment. The team signed Kimbrel back in December of 2023 on a one-year, $13 million deal. Baltimore needed a closer after losing their All-Star Felix Bautista in August of last year to an elbow injury. The O’s were looking for a closer that could pitch for one season, given the fact that Bautista is scheduled to be back in spring of 2025, and who better than Kimbrel? The 36-year-old is fourth all-time in career saves with 440, and he showed signs of life with the Phillies in 2023. Kimbrel struggles with one thing though: consistency.
Kimbrel was very solid in the start of his tenure with Baltimore. He pitched to a record of 3-1 with an ERA of 3.18 in April. He was even better in the month of May, recording a 2.79 ERA with six saves in 11 appearances. Kimbrel really started to struggle in the month of July, as most O’s did. His ERA of 6.52 was one of the worst on the pitching staff, and he only recorded four saves. His ERA jumped up to 7.27 in the month of August, and he failed to record a save for the first time in his Orioles career. Baltimore noticed his struggles, so they decided to use him less. That strategy hasn’t worked out, as he has an ERA around 22 (!!) in the month of September. Kimbrel went 0.2 innings and gave up three hits, six runs, and two walks in his final outing as an Oriole yesterday in a 10-0 loss against San Francisco.
Craig Kimbrel is most likely on his way to the Hall of Fame after he hangs up the cleats. However, people tend to forget about his great early years and instead remember his rough outings in the postseason for the Phillies in 2023, and his forgetful stint with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. Baltimore recalled reliever Bryan Baker as a corresponding move. Baker could be used as a long reliever after Cole Irvin was claimed off waivers by the Twins.
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