Royals add 9-time All-Star Kimbrel to bolster bullpen (source)

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals agreed to a Major League deal with veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a Major League deal on Sunday, a source told MLB.com, and they expect him to be active in their bullpen on Monday.

The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday after the Trade Deadline and, after clearing waivers, elected free agency a few days later. That allowed the Royals to sign him and have him join a bullpen that has struggled this year but is currently trying out a variety of new faces and could use some experience.

And Kimbrel brings a lot of experience. One of the best closers in history, Kimbrel’s 440 career saves ranks fifth on the all-time saves list, and he has a 2.67 ERA with 1,314 strikeouts in 884 appearances across his 17 seasons. He’s a nine-time All-Star, a 2018 World Series champion and the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year Award winner, and he won both the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year (2014) as well as the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year (2017) honors.

Now 38 years old, Kimbrel has bounced around different teams the past few years, and the Royals will be the 12th team he suits up for in his career. Since 2024, he has a 4.78 ERA across 104 appearances for four different teams.

Kimbrel started this year with the Mets on a Minor League deal and was added to their roster in April, lasting six weeks and allowing 12 runs (10 earned) in 16 innings before they designated him for assignment. He elected free agency and landed with Tampa Bay, where he posted a 3.86 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. One appearance was against the Royals, when Carter Jensen took him deep in the ninth inning to break up a combined no-hitter on June 25.

Kimbrel’s strikeout rate is down to a 22.2% clip this year -- at his best, he hovered around a 40% K rate -- while his walk rate is 11.1%. He is obviously not as dominant as he was as the closer he was a decade ago, but he can still be effective and get outs.

And the Royals were willing to take a chance at this point in the season with his experience and their need for depth arms. Kansas City’s bullpen ERA entering Saturday was 5.32, which ranked second-worst in MLB behind the A’s (5.70). And the Royals just moved one of their best relievers, Daniel Lynch IV, to the rotation to give him an opportunity to start again with a need arising there.

Kansas City is trying out a variety of new arms in the ‘pen right now, including Easton McGee, Nate Pearson and Jose Cuas, and they have several new relievers in Triple-A Omaha who could get opportunities in the big leagues down the stretch, including Carlos Duran (acquired via trade with the Dodgers), Nolan Hoffman (claimed off waivers), Connor Thomas (claimed off waivers) and Luke Little (claimed off waivers).