Mets reportedly calling up veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel

Ian CasselberrySat, April 11, 2026 at 4:56 PM UTC

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The New York Mets are calling up veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, according to multiple reports. The team has not officially announced the move, but Kimbrel is expected to be activated before Saturday’s game versus the Athletics. He was in the Mets’ clubhouse, speaking to reporters.

Kimbrel, 37, signed a minor-league deal with the Mets for spring training. During Grapefruit League play, he allowed three runs and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and five walks.

Concerns about his velocity and control kept Kimbrel off the Mets’ Opening Day roster. The right-hander could have opted to become a free agent but instead stayed with the Mets to build himself up at the team’s spring complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Kimbrel made an appearance for the Mets’ Single-A affiliate on Tuesday and reached 94.2 mph with his fastball, which apparently compelled all sides to consider him ready. Adding him to the major-league roster will boost the value of Kimbrel’s contract up to $2.5 million.

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The Mets’ bullpen has been effective early on, compiling a 2.85 ERA in 14 games. But with 43 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings, perhaps the belief is that the relief corps needs more strikeout stuff behind closer Devin Williams.

"We continue to believe he can help us this year; he wants to help us," said Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, via SNY.

"We have a stable pen so far. We haven’t made a move, but eventually we will,” he added. “He’s certainly a candidate when we have an opportunity."

Last season, Kimbrel appeared in 13 games for the Houston Astros and one for the Atlanta Braves. He totaled a 2.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 12 innings.

For his career, Kimbrel has a 3.58 ERA with a strikeout rate of 14 batters per nine innings. With 440 career saves, he ranks fifth among MLB’s all-time leaders. Among active pitchers, he’s second to Kenley Jansen, currently with the Detroit Tigers at 478 career saves.

However, Kimbrel didn’t record a single save last season after earning 23 in each of the previous two seasons, one with the Philadelphia Phillies and the other with the Baltimore Orioles. That isn’t likely to change with Williams established as the Mets’ closer.

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Source: “AOL Sports”