Orioles designate Craig Kimbrel for assignment amid rough second half (original) (raw)

The Orioles designated Craig Kimbrel for assignment on Wednesday, ending an unsuccessful tenure in Baltimore and potentially the 36-year-old veteran’s career.

Kimbrel, who was signed to a one-year deal last winter for 12million(witha2025cluboptionworth12 million (with a 2025 club option worth 12million(witha2025cluboptionworth13 million or a $1 million buyout), went 7-5 with a 5.33 ERA and 23 saves in 57 games this season. He struggled in the closer role, particularly in the second half (10.59 ERA in 18 appearances), and was removed in favor of trade deadline acquisition Seranthony Domínguez.

Against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, Kimbrel recorded just two outs while surrendering six runs on three hits and two walks.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/01oGelj2Ty

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 18, 2024

(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

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Brittany Ghiroli is a senior writer for The Athletic covering MLB. She spent two years on the Washington Nationals beat for The Athletic and, before that, a decade with MLB.com, including nine years on the Orioles beat and brief stints in Tampa Bay (’08) and New York (’09). She was Baltimore Magazine’s “Best Reporter” in 2014 and D.C. Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. She’s a proud Michigan State graduate. Follow Brittany on Twitter @Britt_Ghiroli