BREAKING: Veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel has officially signed a major league contract with the Houston Astros, sources confirmed to ESPN just moments ago. This critical addition comes as the Astros face a bullpen crisis while striving to maintain their lead in the American League West.
Kimbrel, who is now on his ninth major league team and second this season, previously spent time with the Atlanta Braves before being designated for assignment. After two months with the Texas Rangers Triple-A team, he showcased a solid 3.86 ERA and struck out 28 batters in 21 innings, making him a valuable asset for Houston.
The Astros are experiencing significant pressure as closer Josh Hader is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Currently, Houston’s lead over the second-place Seattle Mariners stands at just 1.5 games. The team’s bullpen, once ranked among the best in MLB with a 3.47 ERA in the first three months of the season, has struggled since July 1, with a troubling spike to a 4.69 ERA.
Astros manager Joe Espada has relied heavily on pitchers Bryan Abreu, Steven Okert, Bryan King, and Bennett Sousa, but the workload has raised concerns about fatigue. Kimbrel’s arrival is seen as a much-needed late-inning option to alleviate the strain on the current bullpen.
Kimbrel, who had a standout career as one of the most feared closers in baseball, has saved a total of 68 games since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, averaging 240 strikeouts over 180.1 innings. However, his ERA has climbed to 4.00, nearly double the 2.18 he maintained during his first dozen seasons. His fastball velocity has also decreased from a peak of 98.3 mph in 2017 to an average of 92.8 mph this season.
The Astros are eager for Kimbrel to step up and stabilize the bullpen as they head into the latter part of the season. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this move impacts the team’s playoff aspirations in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for further updates on Kimbrel’s performance and the Astros’ pursuit of a strong finish in the 2023 season.
