Mets Sign RHP Craig Kimbrel and C Austin Barnes to Minor League Deals

FLUSHING, N.Y., January 29, 2026 – The New York Mets today announced that the club has signed RHP Craig Kimbrel and C Austin Barnes to minor league contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training.

Kimbrel, 37, owns a career 56-48 record with a 2.58 ERA (236 ER/821.2 IP), 1282 strikeouts and 440 saves over 16 Major League seasons with Atlanta, San Diego, Boston, Chicago-NL, Chicago-AL, Los Angeles-NL, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Houston. Among relievers all-time, he ranks fourth in strikeouts and fifth in saves. Among active relievers, he ranks second in strikeouts behind only Aroldis Chapman (1331) and second in saves behind Kenley Jansen (476). He is a nine-time All-Star, which is the second-most selections all-time among relief pitchers, only trailing Mariano Rivera’s 13 selections.

The right-hander was voted the National League Rookie of the Year in 2011 with Atlanta. He was named the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year in 2014 with Atlanta and the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year in 2017 with Boston.

In 14 games between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros last season, he finished 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP) and 17 strikeouts.

Barnes, 36, has posted a career slashline of .223/.322/.338 with 35 home runs, 162 RBI, 63 doubles and three triples over 11 Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 13 games with the Dodgers last season, he hit .214 (9-42) with three doubles, two RBI, and four runs before being released on May 20. He then signed with the San Francisco Giants on a minor league contract, appearing in 13 games in their system before being released on August 1.