{"id":112845,"date":"2026-01-24T21:30:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T02:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=112845"},"modified":"2026-01-24T21:31:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T02:31:20","slug":"mets-sign-potential-hall-of-famer-and-veteran-influence-to-minor-league-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/24\/mets-sign-potential-hall-of-famer-and-veteran-influence-to-minor-league-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets Sign Potential Future Hall of Famer and Veteran Influence to Minor League Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"295\" data-end=\"651\">The <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/NYM\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Mets<\/a> made a quietly fascinating move by signing <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kimbrcr01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Craig Kimbrel<\/a> to a minor league contract \u2014 a low-cost gamble on one of the most accomplished relief pitchers the game has ever seen. While the deal comes without guarantees, it brings a pitcher whose career r\u00e9sum\u00e9 already stacks up with the greatest closers in Major League Baseball history.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"653\" data-end=\"755\">If this signing pays off even modestly, the Mets could benefit both on the field and in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"762\" data-end=\"820\"><strong data-start=\"766\" data-end=\"820\">A Dominant Career Across Baseball\u2019s Biggest Stages<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"822\" data-end=\"1089\">Craig Kimbrel debuted with the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/ATL\/2010.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Atlanta Braves<\/a> in 2010, immediately establishing himself as one of the most overpowering relievers in the sport. From 2011 to 2014, he was virtually untouchable, leading the National League in saves for four consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1127\">His career path includes stops with:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1379\">\n<li data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1160\">\n<p data-start=\"1130\" data-end=\"1160\">Atlanta Braves (2010\u20132014)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1161\" data-end=\"1190\">\n<p data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1190\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kimbrcr01.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">San Diego Padres<\/a> (2015)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1191\" data-end=\"1223\">\n<p data-start=\"1193\" data-end=\"1223\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/BOS\/2016.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boston Red Sox<\/a> (2016\u20132018)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1224\" data-end=\"1249\">\n<p data-start=\"1226\" data-end=\"1249\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/CHC\/2019.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago Cubs<\/a> (2019)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1280\">\n<p data-start=\"1252\" data-end=\"1280\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/CHW\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago White Sox<\/a> (2021)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1281\" data-end=\"1313\">\n<p data-start=\"1283\" data-end=\"1313\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/LAD\/2022.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> (2022)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1314\" data-end=\"1348\">\n<p data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1348\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/PHI\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philadelphia Phillies<\/a> (2023)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1379\">\n<p data-start=\"1351\" data-end=\"1379\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/BAL\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Baltimore Orioles<\/a> (2024)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1379\">\n<p data-start=\"1351\" data-end=\"1379\">Atlanta Braves (2025)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1379\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/teams\/HOU\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Houston Astros<\/a> (2025)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1381\" data-end=\"1450\">No matter the uniform, Kimbrel was trusted with the game on the line.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1868\" data-end=\"1901\">During his peak run with Atlanta:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1902\" data-end=\"2002\">\n<li data-start=\"1902\" data-end=\"1927\">\n<p data-start=\"1904\" data-end=\"1927\">2011\u20132014 ERA: 1.43<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1928\" data-end=\"1959\">\n<p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"1959\">186 saves in four seasons<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1960\" data-end=\"2002\">\n<p data-start=\"1962\" data-end=\"2002\">Opponents hit under .170 against him<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2004\" data-end=\"2204\">Even later in his career, Kimbrel continued to miss bats. In 2023 with the Phillies, he recorded 23 saves with a 3.26 ERA, proving he could still handle late-inning pressure well into his 30s.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2211\" data-end=\"2261\"><strong data-start=\"2215\" data-end=\"2261\">Awards, Accolades, and Historical Rankings<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2263\" data-end=\"2295\">Kimbrel\u2019s trophy case is loaded:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2297\" data-end=\"2484\">\n<li data-start=\"2297\" data-end=\"2343\">\n<p data-start=\"2299\" data-end=\"2343\">9\u00d7 All-Star (2011\u20132014, 2016\u20132018, 2021)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2344\" data-end=\"2378\">\n<p data-start=\"2346\" data-end=\"2378\">NL Rookie of the Year (2011)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2379\" data-end=\"2412\">\n<p data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2412\">Reliever of the Year Awards<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2413\" data-end=\"2455\">\n<p data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2455\">World Series Champion (2018 Red Sox)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2456\" data-end=\"2484\">\n<p data-start=\"2458\" data-end=\"2484\">Four-time saves leader<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2486\" data-end=\"2509\">Historically, he ranks:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2510\" data-end=\"2685\">\n<li data-start=\"2510\" data-end=\"2540\">\n<p data-start=\"2512\" data-end=\"2540\">5th all-time in saves<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2541\" data-end=\"2609\">\n<p data-start=\"2543\" data-end=\"2609\">Among the top 5 in career strikeout rate (minimum 500 innings)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2610\" data-end=\"2685\">\n<p data-start=\"2612\" data-end=\"2685\">One of only a handful of relievers with 400+ saves and a sub-3.00 ERA<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1673\" data-end=\"1725\">\n<p data-start=\"1675\" data-end=\"1725\">Over 1,200 strikeouts in just over 750 innings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1726\" data-end=\"1806\">\n<p data-start=\"1728\" data-end=\"1806\">Career strikeout rate above 14 K\/9, one of the highest ever for a reliever<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1807\" data-end=\"1866\">\n<p data-start=\"1809\" data-end=\"1866\">Multiple seasons with 40+ saves, including 50 in 2013<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2687\" data-end=\"2760\">Those benchmarks are why Hall of Fame discussions often include his name.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_85904\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-85904\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-85904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/09\/USATSI_24259843_168403884_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-85904\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sep 17, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) walks off the field after being removed during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 data-start=\"2767\" data-end=\"2808\"><strong data-start=\"2771\" data-end=\"2808\">Why This Makes Sense for the Mets<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2810\" data-end=\"2872\">This isn\u2019t about turning back the clock. It\u2019s about value.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2874\" data-end=\"2897\">On a minor league deal:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"3026\">\n<li data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"2944\">\n<p data-start=\"2900\" data-end=\"2944\">The Mets assume almost no financial risk<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2945\" data-end=\"2984\">\n<p data-start=\"2947\" data-end=\"2984\">There\u2019s no guaranteed roster spot<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2985\" data-end=\"3026\">\n<p data-start=\"2987\" data-end=\"3026\">Kimbrel must earn his way onto the team<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3028\" data-end=\"3222\">If his fastball still sits in the mid-90s and his breaking ball remains sharp, Kimbrel could provide useful middle-to-late inning relief at a fraction of the cost of free-agent bullpen arms.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3229\" data-end=\"3273\"><strong data-start=\"3233\" data-end=\"3273\">An Investment in the Next Generation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3275\" data-end=\"3347\">Beyond performance, Kimbrel\u2019s presence carries enormous off-field value.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3349\" data-end=\"3373\">Few pitchers understand:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3374\" data-end=\"3533\">\n<li data-start=\"3374\" data-end=\"3415\">\n<p data-start=\"3376\" data-end=\"3415\">Pitching with a one-run lead in October<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3416\" data-end=\"3454\">\n<p data-start=\"3418\" data-end=\"3454\">Adjusting mechanics as velocity dips<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3455\" data-end=\"3501\">\n<p data-start=\"3457\" data-end=\"3501\">Preparing mentally for high-leverage innings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3502\" data-end=\"3533\">\n<p data-start=\"3504\" data-end=\"3533\">Longevity as a relief pitcher<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3535\" data-end=\"3719\">For a Mets bullpen that includes younger, developing arms, having a pitcher who has closed postseason games, won championships, and reinvented himself multiple times is invaluable.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3726\" data-end=\"3761\"><strong data-start=\"3730\" data-end=\"3761\">Low Risk, Legitimate Upside<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_67195\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-67195\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-67195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/02\/USATSI_21443124-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-67195\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sep 17, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen on the field before a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"3763\" data-end=\"3909\">If Kimbrel doesn\u2019t make the roster, the Mets lose nothing.<br data-start=\"3821\" data-end=\"3824\" \/>If he does, they gain experience, depth, mentorship \u2014 and possibly effective innings.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3911\" data-end=\"3944\">That\u2019s smart roster construction.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3946\" data-end=\"4026\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">And sometimes, the smartest moves don\u2019t come with guarantees \u2014 just opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New York Mets made a quietly fascinating move by signing Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract \u2014 a low-cost gamble on one of the most accomplished relief pitchers the game has ever seen. While the deal comes without guarantees, it brings a pitcher whose career r\u00e9sum\u00e9 already stacks up with the greatest closers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5710,"featured_media":101756,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"554","footnotes":""},"categories":[926,2,1071,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-milb","category-featured","category-mlb","category-mets"],"modified_by":"Eddie Lennon, Staff Writer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5710"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112845"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112850,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112845\/revisions\/112850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}