Royals Add Veteran Reliever Craig Kimbrel
The Kansas City Royals have officially announced the signing of veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel to a Major League contract. To make room on the active roster, Kansas City optioned right-hander Easton McGee to Triple-A Omaha. Because the team already had an open spot on its 40-man roster, no additional transaction was necessary.
August 9: The Royals agreed to a Major League deal with Kimbrel, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Kimbrel is represented by SportsMeter.
Once Kimbrel takes the mound for Kansas City, the Royals will become the 12th MLB team he has appeared for during his 17-year career. They will also be his third club in 2026. The veteran reliever has posted a 4.81 ERA across 33 2/3 innings between the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays this season.
Kimbrel began the year after signing a minor league contract with the Mets during the offseason. New York selected his contract in April, but he was designated for assignment in May. Rather than accept an outright assignment, Kimbrel elected free agency and soon joined the Rays. However, a similar sequence unfolded in Tampa Bay, with the Rays designating him for assignment last weekend.
Kimbrel was still an All-Star in 2023, but his performance has declined since the start of the 2024 season. He owns a 4.78 ERA over 98 innings during that span, including his 4.81 mark this year. In his combined time with the Mets and Rays in 2026, Kimbrel has recorded an 11.1% walk rate and a 22.2% strikeout rate. His current strikeout percentage would represent the lowest of his 17 MLB seasons by a significant margin.
When the Mets selected Kimbrel’s contract earlier this year, his $2.5 million salary for 2026 became guaranteed. New York remains responsible for most of that salary, while the Rays and Royals only owe Kimbrel a prorated portion of the MLB minimum for the time he spends on their big league rosters.
For Kansas City, the move carries relatively little financial risk and gives the club an opportunity to see whether the 38-year-old can recapture some of the form that made him one of baseball’s premier closers. The Royals have one of the weaker bullpens in MLB, so adding Kimbrel could provide another option for innings or higher-leverage situations.
Kimbrel brings considerable experience to the Royals, having accumulated 440 career saves—the fifth-most in MLB history.
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