Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Craig Kimbrel was relieved of his duties as the Orioles’ closer in July due to his inconsistent performance. Now, he has been let go completely. With only 11 games left in the regular season, the Orioles decided to designate the 36-year-old right-handed pitcher for assignment on Wednesday, ensuring that he will not be part of this year’s postseason, whether for the Orioles or any other team. This decision came after Kimbrel’s worst outing of his career, less than 24 hours earlier.
In that game, Kimbrel allowed a series of hits, walks, and runs, resulting in six runs being scored against him – the first time in his long career that he had allowed six runs in a game. This has been part of a trend, as Kimbrel has struggled in 8 out of his last 11 appearances, raising his ERA to 5.33. Despite his impressive career achievements, including being fifth on the all-time saves list, Kimbrel’s recent performance has not been up to par.
Manager Brandon Hyde expressed his respect for Kimbrel and his contributions to the game, but acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to let him go. Kimbrel signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Orioles in December, but his struggles throughout the season led to this outcome.
Over the past few years, Kimbrel has shown flashes of brilliance but also periods of struggle. Mechanical issues have been pointed out as a reason for his inconsistency, leading to a decline in his performance. Despite his reputation and past success, Kimbrel’s recent numbers have been disappointing, with a decline in velocity and effectiveness.
Overall, Kimbrel’s decline in performance led to the Orioles’ decision to part ways with him, ending his season prematurely.
