June 6th: Atlanta made it official today, announcing they have selected Kimbrel’s contract. They also recalled lefty Dylan Dodd, placed right-hander Daysbel Hernandez on the 15-day injured list with forearm inflammation and traded righty Scott Blewett to the Orioles.
June 5th: The Braves are planning to select the contract of right-hander Craig Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The full-circle promotion of the now-37-year-old former Atlanta closer, who’s been pitching well on a minor league deal in Gwinnett, comes less than an hour after the Braves’ bullpen melted down and squandered a six-run ninth-inning lead in an 11-10 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Kimbrel, of course, broke into the majors with Atlanta late in the 2010 season and immediately catapulted himself into stardom. He was the unanimous NL Rookie of the Year in 2011 — winning over teammate Freddie Freeman — after posting a 2.10 ERA with an NL-best 46 saves and a colossal 41.5% strikeout rate. He made the first of four straight All-Star teams that year — a remarkable run of four straight seasons that saw him lead the Senior Circuit in saves while garnering repeated Cy Young and MVP votes. From 2010-14, Kimbrel posted a comedic 1.43 ERA and 42.2% strikeout rate while racking up 186 saves. It’s arguably the best five-year from any reliever in the sport’s history.
Kimbrel has never quite recaptured that dominance, though he was still excellent from 2015-18 before running into some rough patches. He logged ERAs north of 5.00 in 2019-20 before bouncing back with a solid if tumultuous 2021-23 stint where he was often shakier than his surface-level numbers might initially suggest. His 2024 run with the Orioles started well — Kimbrel carried a 2.10 ERA into the All-Star break — but went off the rails in the season’s second half. From July 14 onward, Kimbrel was shredded for an 11.50 ERA in 18 innings before being released.
Now back in the Braves organization after signing a minor league deal, he’s looked terrific in Triple-A. Kimbrel carries flat 2.00 ERA in 18 innings. He’s set 33% of his opponents down on strikes, albeit against a 13% walk rate. He’s also working with a fastball that’s now sitting just 93.2 mph — nowhere near the sizzling 97-98 mph he averaged at his peak. Even as recently as 2023 with the Phillies, Kimbrel’s heater sat at 95.8 mph, but he’s now dropped nearly three ticks off that velocity.
Time will tell whether Kimbrel can get big league hitters out with such diminished power on his pitches and with command that’s clearly not up to par, but the bar to clear in Atlanta is low right now. Closer Raisel Iglesias saw his ERA balloon from 5.79 to 6.75 today. Scott Blewett, who’s been designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Kimbrel, yielded five runs on his way out the door. Daysbel Hernandez has a 2.22 ERA but has walked more than 19% of his opponents, so there’s no way he can continue at that pace. Trade acquisition Rafael Montero has a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings.
Atlanta has gotten good to great results from Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer, Enyel De Los Santos and Dylan Lee, but Iglesias has floundered all season and the final couple spots in the ’pen have been a revolving door. The hope will be that Kimbrel can help to solidify things, but recent seasons have shown that he’s susceptible to lengthy slumps not all that dissimilar from the one in which Iglesias is currently mired.
Oh yes that is the answer. Good job again AA.
How desperate must AA be to call up kimbrel? He’s been washed up for at least the last three years.
I believe the appropriate word we’re looking for here is “greasy”
He’s not just desperate. He’s desperate to look like the smartest guy in the room. He’s huffed enough of his own farts to tank a franchise that looked destined for a dynasty. He’s gotta go.
Calling up players from the minors does not make a team desperate. Now, if they were trading for him…
His career started with Atlanta; his career can end with Atlanta.
POVERTY
I hereby dub thee POVERTY LOU!
Thank you, thank you.
Duh. I mean what the heck are you waiting for? What could it hurt? Id take my chances over Rafael Montero or Scott Blewitt. The amount of money you took on to get Montero (not to mention Profar) could have actually bought a couple decent relief pitchers (many of these guys, like Kimbrel, are signing minor league deals). I mean Id rather see Jesse Chavez then some of those guys.
You have one of the best relievers of all time in AAA with a 2.00 era and a 0.9 Whip and you are giving the ball to Scott Blewitt while he sits at AAA for another month. I know he’s not great anymore but take a shot.
They gave the ball to Blewett with a 7-run lead, not in a save situation. There’s more than enough legitimate criticism to go around for the Braves front office and coaching staff without making misleading arguments like this.
The game was a must win game. He was out there too long. They took Holmes out after (I think) a weak ground ball and a strikeout (with a 3 run lead in the 4th inning). That was a move of desperation. Keeping Blewitt out there after two homers was not showing the same degree of desperation.
And I’m also just using Blewitt in a generic sense of (look at these guys you are giving the ball to).
I think the issue is putting Iglesias in when the game is in the balance. Blewitt was fine until he wasn’t, but after what Iglesias has done all year, I seriously can’t understand how he’s the choice there.
Holmes was pulled after giving up 3 runs w/a 6 run lead. He gave up a walk and 3 straight hits. Definitely not a move of desperation to pull a guy who’s pitching like that.
He was erratic to start the inning when he walked two. Then he gave up a double. But after that he gave up 2 weak ground balls that got through and a strikeout. I say it was a move of desperation because they wouldn’t have taken the pitcher out there generally, especially with a 3 run lead still. It’s the 4th inning. The pitch count isn’t high and the high leverage bullpen guys have been used in the series. It appeared they really felt they needed this game which is why I said they treated it almost like a must win in that situation.
I hope he does well, especially now that he’s back with the team he started his career with. Good luck Craig!
Can Ronny Simon Pitch? Sheesh. He’s available if interested Ben’s got you on this one.
Phillies South
Lol what now?
Don’t worry guys. We’re one 20 game winning streak away from being back in the playoff hunt.
Can’t be any worse than Iglesias..
Guy Just Waking Up from a 6 1/2 Year Coma: NOW WE’RE TALKING!
He had an eight year stretch with a cumulative WHIP of 0.91, a FIP under 2, and 14.6 K/9. He wasn’t overrated.
I don’t think TradeAcuna even understands how ERA is calculated. Trying to get him to acknowledge WHIP or FIP is an exercise in futility
He doesn’t understand how to use “dominate” and “dominant” in a sentence either.
Kimbrel is at least a conversation to be in the Hall of Fame. He had a stretch where he was absolutely dominating and racking up saves. As usual, this person continues to post verbal diarrhea…
Absolute HOF inductee.
It turns out there are people with IQ’s so low they can barely function in human society who are also allowed to post their thoughts on the internet. TradeAcuna is the special kind of individual who makes everyone around him dumber for having read his drivel.
The old “my eyes are more reliable than statistics” argument. Fitting coming from you
I always have faith we make a run but this yrs team is different. Ozzie is average, Olsen meh, like Riley but not living up to deal. Same with Harris. Time to unload. Move Murphy, Ozuna, not many others to move. Maybe bummer at the break to a contender. Snit will hang it up and either Dero, Weiss or Skip S. Gets the gig.
Mark DeRosa will never manage the Braves. He’s a trash talking jerk. The garbage he said on one of his moronic MLB TV rants a few weeks ago about current players totally disqualifies him. Bet he’s hated in the Braves locker room now. Doubt he can even get into the stadium w/out a disguise.
@BravesRebuild: You don’t even know how many years the Braves have Acuna under team control—through 2029 fyi. You’ve been calling for a rebuild for 3 years—-since they won the WS in 2021. Nobody needs to “catch on” to your opinions.
So you want the kind of respect you showed other Braves fans on this site when you posted as BravesFan2024 last year? The “respect” you showed when you insisted in most of your posts that those who disagreed w/your opinions were clueless or didn’t understand baseball? If you’re not that guy, I’ll agree to disagree w/your current opinions in as respectful a tone as you show others. If, as I suspect, you’ve simply changed your screen name and toned down the barrage of insults you included in most of your posts in the past, I’ll reply to you the way you’ve spoken to me—and others—on this site for the last several years.
You want to rebuild a team that was missing it’s two best players to start the year, and clearly is resetting the CBT this year?
I don’t know if some of the Braves “fans” on this site really have opinions this bad, or these are just trolls. Awful take, though; just awful.
Olson has been one of the Braves best hitters since they traded for him. Saying he’s been a terrible experiment is outrageous and basically proves you think batting average is a legitimate stat to judge a players production. Murphy has been fine when he’s actually been healthy, and they traded Contreras because pitchers actively complained about throwing to him. This isn’t a secret. He seems to have turned some of that around in Milwaukee…god did him, but the doesn’t change the context of why that trade happened. Harris is 23. That’s it. 23. He’s a gold glove caliber center fielder who plenty of pop. Tearing the whole thing down because of a bad 2 and a half months is ridiculous. They need to get some coaches in there that preach to the lineups strengths instead of trying to turn free swinging power hitters into patient slap hitters, but talent is still there. Your posts are such absurd hyperbolic overreaction that you should take them to Twitter instead of this comment section.
What do you think the meant by “defensively liability”? And his metrics with the Braves back that up. If you’re looking for media quotes of Braves pitchers throwing Contreras under the bus, of course those don’t exist. But it was a not-so-well-kept secret around the organization. He turned things around with the Brewers, good for him. It doesn’t change the reason that trade was made. And you’re just going to ignore all context for why the Braves were so disappointing in 2024…while still making the playoffs? Why am I not surprised?
Why are you always begging for a link? Do your own research. If you need help, google articles at Battery Power on Contreras. They’re also not the only site that’s written articles (and commented on same in their comment threads) that made mention of Braves pitchers not liking to throw to Contreras. They don’t quote specific pitchers, but why would you expect they would? Media has to be careful about this kind of reporting if they want to “stay in the loop.” The Brewers changed Contreras setup behind the plate after they traded for him. They teach their catchers to catch on one knee to help their blocking. It helped Contreras defensively his first season w/them, but he’s regressed since then. Hilarious that you often say “as I never heard of it” when others comment on specific details. You’re also calling others mentally ill w/your last comment. How very respectful.
You’ve regularly left Harris II off your short list of players the Braves should keep in your “trade the team” rants.
Only way to increase his trade value.
He has no trade value. Even if he pitches good for the next month.
If he pitches well he will have some value. Even if it is just cash. $50 and a pair of used underwear technically has SOME value.
That Eli White and Nick Allen get everyday at bats on this team is a crime.
Our front office is grasping @ straws to keep fans in the stands. IMO Snit will be gone after the ASG. Team has turned into a laughing stock. Bring in David Ross.
23 saves for B-more last year? Noice! Going to help save a few more games this year.
Obviously, you missed his 10 plus ERA after the break!
So just don’t give him any breaks!
I’d be in favor of moving Ozuna for sufficient value, but if they did, they should keep Murphy and let him and Baldwin alternate between catcher and DH.
Can he coach?
Desperation?
I mean when your WHIP is 0.6 or 0.8 you really can’t be doing what you are talking about very frequently. It is mathematically impossible. He did walk some guys at times. But he was unhittable. I believe he struck out the side once after walking the bases loaded.
When handing out plaudits to a few of the pen, Adams overlooks Daysbel Hernandez, who despite some command issues has been this year’s Joe Jimenez. We pray for a quick recovery.
I like Hernandez’ stuff, but a 19% walk rate is a lot worse than “some command issues.”
Easy to isolate one stat. But looking at hits allowed, holds, ERA etc. he leads the pen. At least you don’t close your eyes like every time Johnson hangs a curveball.. As a package, he’s been our best.
I thought Kimbrel was going to break Mariano’s record. To be fair, he had 225 through 2015, leading the league four seasons in a row, and still recording 39 on a sub-.500 Padres team. Alas, he’s not aged very well into his 30s. Feels weird knowing the big three closers from the 2010s careers are coming to an end. Kimbrel hasn’t been consistent since 2018, and has steadily become less effective. Kenley lasted longer, but he’s 37 and is having the worst year of his career. Aroldis Chapman is still going strong a 37 and can still hit 100+, so who knows how much longer his career will go, but in his late-30s, his retirement is probably coming sooner rather than later.
Chapman really isn’t a good comparison right now. Boston is using him as a situational pitcher. If lefties are coming up and it’s a close situation, then sure, he might get a close, but he has acutally been pitching in the 8th and 9th innings this year just due to matchups.
I say this because it makes his stat line look more favorable. The funny thing is, even with favorable matchups, he is getting lit up in non-save situations (8th inning) vs his 9th inning work. When will managers learn that closers should be closing and not pitching to matchups? It just doesn’t work
I do get what you meant overall though and agree. For my money I would install Kimbrel as the Closer right away with the idea that Iglesias needs a reset and hopefully if Kimbrel bombs in the second half like last year, Iglesias may be ready. If not, the Braves will likely be out of it and I think Ozuna, Holmes, and Sale would be decent trade chips. Personally, I would hope Strider starts looking better and trade him for a fortune as well. I just don’t thnk he is a ‘pitcher’. He is a thrower and the fact he refused a re-hab assignment this last DL trip just pisses me off. He has not been good enough to call his own shots. Highlight reel, yes, but nowhere near as good as people think he is overall.
One last ride
@Wiseoldfool..David Ross is better than Snitker, but Joe Madden would be better also! If not Madden, I would like to see Mark DeRosa or AJ Pierzynski get a shot at managing the Braves! Whatever, please don’t use in-house guys like Walt Weiss or recycle Fredi Gonzales. Either way, Snit has got to go! I wouldn’t have let him on the plane to San Francisco!!!
Madden’s schtik doesn’t play on veteran teams. We saw it with the Cubs as the core grew up and we saw it with the veteran Angels team he was hired to lead.
If the Braves fire Snitker they either stay in-house with Weiss or maybe a guy like Ross, who does have organizational ties
Anybody but Madden. Wherever he manages the weirdness gets old sooner or later. Walt Weiss is a solid baseball guy unless he suffers guilt from association..
He’s done.
There are 3 teams in the NL with a worse record than the braves
So you’re saying there’s a chance!?
When you need to inspire a frustrated fan base you bring back a washed up fan favorite
I said it all winter, They didn’t try to improve the team. Very tight-fisted to the point of passive aggressiveness. Always trying to nickel and dime things. Say they would spend for the right guy. Other teams do. And Jim Palmer and Tom Seaver and Mariano Rivera are no longer playing or alive. So who is the right guy? Their excuses are their own. And too much regression from current roster. Lack of bat speed, situational hitting., etc. Going back to the beginning of last year, I bet the Braves lead all of MLB in solo home runs. No one on base, low on base percentage. And everyone trying to hit an 8 run homer. They psyche themselves out.
.
Anyone with a lick of sense knew what the BRaves were doing this winter, long before the media figured it out … resetting the CBT counter. Many of us knew it was coming before last season ever ended.
The fact that you still think it was a ‘nickel and dime’ thing just to be a nickel and dime thing and not a CBT reset, and you are bragging about it, is hilarious.
Time to crumble. Did Craig give up all the runs today?
It’s like Kimbrel has a license to steal from major league GMs.
Kimbrel❓How about a major shakeup of the coaching staff❓
Sign David Robertson for starters.
Actually, I think this is nice to see….
If he does moderately well, it’s a Win Win.
If he cannot return to form, he may close out his career right where he should close it out.
(And he is STILL getting over 12K/9….so there is SOMETHING there if he can get his control a little better…though that has been a career long issue.)
Braves havent confirmed Kimbrel’s call up. Ken Rosenthal said he got it from a source. I guess we will see if Craig is in San Francisco tonight.
Okay, now it’s official 🙂
Hey Scott, YOU BLEWITT!
Interesting you said baserunners, as in plural. Craig Kimbrel’s career WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched) was 1.014. That would indicate he roughly averaged about a baserunner per inning, not multiples. Notice how actual statistics don’t support your opinion? So, you either don’t understand stats or are imagining ghost runners; not sure which. Lol.
At any rate, as always, I vehemently disagree with your opinions.
Sitting on the step of the dugout,
Watching the Braves fade away..
I Shouldn’t have put in Iglesias
Hoping that he would save the day
Now I’m flying a long 5 hours..
All the way to the Frisco Bay!
And I’ll be sitting on the step of the dugout,
Wondering if my job will last past today..
Sing it with me..
The fact that azocar and Williams are wasting roster spots is laughable. At least Kimbrel is finally on the team.
Bro why do you always criticize people on the braves?? TRADEACUNA he’s your best player and you still have him for a while. So shut up and start being a true fan of the team you like
Released the next day.