This offseason, the Atlanta Braves made significant investments in their bullpen.
Between signing Reynaldo López for three years and $30 million, trading for Aaron Bummer from the Chicago White Sox and Jackson Kowar from the Kansas City Royals, and re-signing their own free agents Pierce Johnson and Joe Jiménez, the Braves are expected to invest nearly $50 million in relief corps salaries in 2024.
(In addition to those players, Atlanta has signed Jackson Stephens, Penn Murfee, and Grant Holmes to minor league contracts as depth players.)
But there is one more player who some believe should join the group.
Will Leitch of MLB.com writes in his “10 player-team reunions we’d love to see” piece that the Braves should consider bringing back former Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel.
Kimbrel, who hails from nearby Huntsville, AL and made his major league debut with Atlanta in 2010, is a free agent after spending last season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Leitch writes about Kimbrel’s addition.
Kimbrel was drafted by the Braves in 2007, and he made his major league debut three years later, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2011 and leading the NL in saves for four straight seasons. Do you picture Kimbrel as a Brave first and foremost when you close your eyes? If he is inducted into the Hall of Fame, the team will most likely be on his plaque. Allowing him to say goodbye to the fans who first supported him would be a fantastic way to (potentially) send him off to Cooperstown.
Kimbrel, 35, pitched for the Phillies and went 8-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 23 saves in 28 chances while making his ninth All-Star appearance (and first since 2020).
It doesn’t make sense from a baseball standpoint.
It’s an intriguing concept, albeit one that feels more nostalgic than necessary at this point. Kimbrel earned $10 million from Philadelphia on a one-year deal last season and is reportedly attracting interest from the Kansas City Royals, among other teams.
While it would be nice to “bring him home” and see Kimbrel (and that familiar lean) back in the Braves bullpen, Atlanta’s financial investment in their back end means he’d be working out of a medium-leverage role at best, with Raisel Iglesias set to be the closer and AJ Minter, Joe Jiménez, and Pierce Johnson all seemingly lined up for setup roles. Is he really willing to forego more money and a better job in order to be in Atlanta? Signing Kimbrel is ultimately a luxury the Braves are unlikely to afford.
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