NEW YORK -- Barely two weeks into the season, the Mets are turning to a likely future Hall of Famer for help.
The Mets intend to activate right-hander Craig Kimbrel before Saturday's game, a source said, adding him to their bullpen. Kimbrel has a $2.5 million value to his Minor League contract that will become guaranteed once he is active.
The Mets have not confirmed the move nor announced a corresponding transaction.
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, Kimbrel chose to stay in Port St. Lucie and continue pitching. He made his debut Tuesday for Single-A St. Lucie, hitting 94.2 mph -- a tick up from where he was during the spring.
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, Kimbrel owns a 2.58 ERA over 16 Major League seasons.