NEW YORK -- Barely two weeks into the season, the Mets are turning to a likely future Hall of Famer for help.
The Mets selected right-hander Craig Kimbrel to the Major League roster before Saturday's game, while designating left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment. Kimbrel has a $2.5 million value in his Minor League contract that became guaranteed upon his activation.
"I'm excited,” Kimbrel said. “It's a great opportunity just to come in here and try to help these guys out and throw up scoreless innings. Just happy to get the opportunity and see what I can do with it."
Kimbrel, 37, entered Spring Training as a favorite to break camp with the Mets, but velocity issues and bouts of wildness ultimately kept him off the roster. Although he could have opted out of his contract, he chose to stay in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and continue pitching. He made his debut on Tuesday for Single-A St. Lucie, hitting 94.2 mph -- a tick up from where he was during the spring.
In his first game with the Mets, an 11-6 loss to the A's, Kimbrel sat a tick below that throughout a scoreless seventh inning, allowing a single and a line drive to the warning track but striking out a pair.
Kimbrel ranks fifth all-time on the Major League saves list with 440, trailing only Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Kenley Jansen and Lee Smith. But he has had a rougher go of things in recent seasons, producing a 4.76 ERA the past two years while bouncing in and out of the Majors.
Overall, he has a 2.58 ERA over 16 Major League seasons.
"I get an adrenaline boost every time I get an opportunity to pitch in a big league ballgame,” Kimbrel said. “Someone told me a long time ago, as soon as that goes away, it's time to go home.
“I still have that adrenaline, that excitement to go out there and compete, to put on a jersey and then represent a city, wherever that is. So I'm excited for this opportunity, and hopefully I can make a difference.”
The roster casualty, Lovelady, has been on and off the Major League club throughout the past year. He posted a 3.68 ERA in a team-high six appearances, though that hardly tells the story of his season. Frequently pitching on days when other relievers were unavailable, Lovelady saved the bullpen on multiple occasions during his time with the Mets.