The Mets announced that they have recalled right-hander Jonah Tong from Triple-A Syracuse. In a corresponding move, fellow right-hander Craig Kimbrel has been designated for assignment.
Kimbrel, 38 next week, is one of the best closers of this generation but has been more of a fringe reliever in recent years. He had to settle for a minor league deal with the Mets coming into 2026, though one that would pay him $2.5MM if he had his contract selected. He was added to the roster a couple of weeks into the season. He has tossed 15 innings for the Mets since then but has allowed 10 earned runs for a flat earned run average of 6.00.
That probably overstates how poorly he has pitched this year. His 23.4% strikeout rate and 9.4% walk rate are both right around league average. His .325 batting average on balls in play and 56.2% strand rate are both to the unfortunate side, as is his 15.8% home run to fly ball ratio. Measures like his 4.90 FIP and 3.76 SIERA suggest he has deserved better in that relatively small sample.
Regardless of what he deserved, the results were enough for the Mets to move on. The club has seemingly been leaning into a youth movement of sorts lately. In the past month or so, they have let go of veteran guys like Tommy Pham, Andy Ibáñez and Austin Slater while calling up A.J. Ewing, Nick Morabito, Zach Thornton and now Tong.
Kimbrel will head into DFA limbo. The Mets could explore trade interest but it may be hard to line up a deal for a pitcher in his late 30s with an ERA of 6.00 who is making a few million, no matter the track record. It is perhaps more likely that he is placed on waivers and clears, leaving the Mets on the hook for the remainder of the money.
If that comes to pass, clubs would then become more interested. They would then be able to sign Kimbrel and would only owe him the prorated portion of the league minimum salary for any time spent on the roster. Though his ERA is high, as mentioned, some of the underlying numbers are a bit more encouraging. Between that and his career track record, perhaps some club would take a shot when the cost is so low.
More to come.
I feel a reunion with the Cubs on the way.
I hope not.
Nats should sign him.
AJ Preller in line one …….
Might be time for Kimbrel to retire and have people debate if he is a hall of famer.
Not really a debate. If Billy Wagner is in, then Kimbrel should be a no doubt guy.
I agree I would vote him in for sure I just assume because he is a closer a lot of people will argue against him getting in.
There will be debate. He’s not as good as Wagner was and it took Billy the whole ten ballots to get in.
Superficially, Craig has nine All-Star nods and fifth all-time in saves, but he’s going to be compared to Kenley and Aroldis when they are all on the ballots together. When you start digging into it, Kimbrel looks more like K-Rod and Franco.
DETROIT TIGERS, say come on down !
Scott Harris – don’t you do it.
I thought Tong was going to be Nolan – hope he deals this time in the majors
Astros might claim him, anyone who knows how to throw a baseball is welcome…
“We’re all told at some point in time that we can no longer play the children’s game. We just don’t know when that’s gonna be. Some of us are told at eighteen, some of us are told at forty, but we’re all told.”
Kimbrell has Wagner numbers. Straight to the Hall!!!