Braves shockingly DFA Craig Kimbrel after just one appearance

Nobody should act like Craig Kimbrel looked flawless on Friday night. He surrendered a hit and a walk to the first two batters he faced but was bailed out by a caught stealing and a pickoff. Still, it was a scoreless frame, and he struck out the last batter he faced with a perfectly placed 93 MPH fastball on the outside corner.

Kimbrel’s not what he once was, and there’s a chance this was a proactive move by the Braves that may have saved him some embarrassment, but I can’t wrap my head around this entire process.

The Braves signed a fan favorite that grew up with the organization, let him rot in the minors for over a month, called him up for one appearance in which he tossed a scoreless frame in a high leverage situation, and then decide to release him the very next day. If this bullpen was loaded with guys that could get outs in high pressure scenarios, this might make some sense, but this relief core has been among the worst in baseball all season. What in the hell is Austin Cox going to provide that’s so much better than Craig Kimbrel.

My guess is nothing. This is yet another head scratcher that is starting to become par for the course for the Braves front office.