Just two months ago, Baltimore Orioles great Jim Palmer said that closer Craig Kimbrel was overlooked for the American League All-Star team.
While the nine-time All-Star stopper had a terrific first half of 2024, his post-break numbers have been shockingly poor. With the Orioles (84-67) poised for a playoff berth, they parted ways with Kimbrel on Wednesday, effectively terminating his first season in Baltimore.
The transfer comes less than 24 hours after one of the 36-year-old’s poorest games of his career. Kimbrel gave up a career-high six runs (all earned) on three hits, with two walks, two strikeouts, and one wild pitch in Tuesday’s 10-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
It was his first appearance in eight days, and the team may have been giving the former NL Rookie of the Year time to clear his mind. What’s most surprising about Kimbrel’s summer collapse is that he was having one of his best seasons prior to the All-Star break.
When Palmer lambasted MLB on social media on July 8 for leaving Kimbrel out of the Midsummer Classic, the 2008 third-round pick’s ERA (2.10) and WHIP (0.90) were at their lowest since 2017. Kimbrel was also tied for third in the MLB in saves with 23, had a 5-2 record, and had allowed eight earned runs on 17 hits while striking out 52 and walking 14 in 34 1/3 innings pitched across 38 appearances.
The 2018 World Series winner did not have a save after July 7 and was finally replaced by midseason acquisition Seranthony Dominguez as the closer. Kimbrel entered the All-Star break with a 2.80 ERA and had nearly doubled it (5.33) by Wednesday’s announcement.
He allowed a monstrous 22 runs (20 earned) on 22 hits and 15 walks in his last 17 innings, and the squad has struggled in the second half, finishing 26-29.
Baltimore is four games behind the New York Yankees (88-63) in the AL East race, but two and a half games ahead of the Kansas City Royals (82-70) for the top wild-card slot.
Kimbrel leaves Baltimore fifth in all-time saves (440) and second among active pitchers, trailing only Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (446). The former also has the highest number of ninth-inning strikeouts in MLB history (1,026).
It’s too late for Kimbrel to turn around a poor end to his 2024 campaign, but perhaps he can return on a short-term basis seeking for a veteran bullpen arm in 2025.
