BREAKING: Braves Reward 9-time All-Star closer with another lucrative contract deal
Nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is looking to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves, the team that originally drafted him.
The Braves confirmed Wednesday that Kimbrel and catcher James McCann have signed minor league contracts. Kimbrel will stay at the Braves’ spring training facility when the season begins on March 27 before heading to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Kimbrel, a 36-year-old right-hander, was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 24 after posting a 5.33 ERA with six blown saves in 29 opportunities. Over his career, he has pitched in 837 games and ranks fifth all-time with 440 saves.
Atlanta plans to open the season with 35-year-old right-hander Raisel Iglesias as its closer. Iglesias recorded 34 saves in 38 chances last season, finishing with a 1.95 ERA.
Originally drafted by the Braves in 2008, Kimbrel made his MLB debut in 2010 and led the National League in saves for four straight seasons, starting with 46 in 2011, when he won Rookie of the Year. His best season came in 2013 when he notched a career-high 50 saves. Throughout his career, he has also pitched for San Diego, Boston, the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia, where he made his most recent All-Star appearance in 2023.
The Braves also confirmed a minor league deal with McCann, a 34-year-old catcher who batted .234 with eight home runs for Baltimore last year. He was in the final season of a four-year, $40.6 million contract he originally signed with the New York Mets.
McCann, an All-Star with the White Sox in 2019, debuted in the majors with Detroit in 2014. Over his 11-year career, he has posted a .241 batting average, including two seasons with the Mets (2021-22).
Additionally, the Braves released 38-year-old left-hander Jake Diekman, who recorded a 4.91 ERA over 7 1/3 innings in seven spring training appearances. Diekman, who had a 5.63 ERA with the Mets in 2024, had been competing for a bullpen role.