Mets To Select Craig Kimbrel’s Contract

Craig Kimbrel is returning to the big leagues, as the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports that the Mets will be selecting the veteran reliever’s contract.  The Mets have two open spots on their 40-man roster, but will need to make a corresponding transaction to create space for Kimbrel on the 26-man active roster.

As per the terms of the minor league contract Kimbrel signed in January, the SportsMeter client will now earn $2.5MM by being added to the active roster.  Kimbrel had more than enough service time to qualify as an Article XX(B) free agent, and thus his minors deal contained three built-in opt-out dates (five days before Opening Day, May 1, June 1).  While New York didn’t include Kimbrel on its Opening Day roster, Kimbrel agreed to pass on his first opt-out opportunity and bide his time in the minors, which consisted of a single inning of work for the Mets’ A-level affiliate in St. Lucie.

Forty-six different players pitched for the Mets in 2025.  That eye-popping number reflects both the team’s injury problems last year, and the Mets’ habit of cycling fresh arms up into the bullpen from Triple-A, and sending other relievers either to the minors (if they have options) or to DFA limbo.

Huascar Brazoban and Tobias Myers are the only pitchers in New York’s current bullpen who have minor league options remaining, and Myers tossed 36 pitches last night in a long relief outing after starter Clay Holmes left due to hamstring tightness.  If Myers isn’t sent down, Richard Lovelady could be a candidate to be designated for assignment to make way for Kimbrel.

Once Kimbrel makes an in-game appearance for the Mets, it will officially make it 10 different teams over 17 Major League seasons during the reliever’s storied career.  A nine-time All-Star and the owner of 440 career saves, Kimbrel has still managed to show some flashes of his prime form in recent years, but he has had trouble sustaining solid results over a full season.  Pitching with the Dodgers in 2022, Kimbrel struggled later in the year and ended up both losing the closer’s job and being left off Los Angeles’ playoff roster entirely.  A rough 5.33 ERA season with the Orioles in 2024 resulted in Kimbrel being designated for assignment and released before the end of September.

The 2025 campaign saw Kimbrel sign with the Braves and Rangers on minor league contracts, and with the Astros on a big league contract in August after Texas released him.  Kimbrel posted a 2.25 ERA and 34.7% strikeout rate over 12 innings in the majors with Houston and Atlanta, but with a gaudy 14.3% walk rate.

Control has been Kimbrel’s largest issue over the back half of his career, and he has also been much more homer-prone than during his All-Star heyday.  Kimbrel’s fastball averaged a modest 93.5mph over his 12-inning sample size in 2025, but he has adjusted his repertoire by incorporating a changeup and slider more frequently into his arsenal.

It remains to be seen what Kimbrel still has in the tank as he approaches his 38th birthday next month, or if the Mets’ pitching development staff has perhaps found a fix to help the righty recapture some of his past magic.  Devin Williams is firmly locked into the closer role, so Kimbrel won’t likely be garnering many save opportunities.

Given the nature of the Mets’ bullpen churn, it is an open question as to how long Kimbrel might even remain on the active roster.  The $2.5MM salary does represent some extra level of commitment, and Kimbrel’s selection adds another boost to the Mets’ already sky-high payroll.  Because the Mets have been luxury-tax payors for four years running and are already far over the highest level of luxury tax penalization, Kimbrel’s $2.5MM salary also comes with an additional $2.75MM tax bill.