Astros sign closer Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel (Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons)

The Houston Astros have signed closer Craig Kimbrel of Huntsville, Alabama to a one-year contract according to Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors. The Astros were in need of another reliever with closer Josh Hader being out for the remainder of the regular season with a strained shoulder.

Kimbrel is joining his ninth Major League Baseball team. He was previously with the Atlanta Braves in two different stints (2010 to 2014, and again in 2025), the San Diego Padres (2015), the Boston Red Sox (2016 to 2018), the Chicago Cubs (2019 to 2021), the Chicago White Sox (2021), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2022), the Philadelphia Phillies (2023), and Baltimore Orioles (2024).

A nine-time All-Star, Kimbrel was honoured four straight seasons with the Braves from 2011 to 2014, three straight seasons with the Red Sox from 2016 to 2018, in 2021 when Kimbrel played for both of the Chicago-based teams, and in 2023 with the Phillies.

Four straight years Kimbrel led the National League in saves. He had 46 saves in 2011, 42 saves in 2012, 50 saves in 2013, and 47 saves in 2014. While with the Braves in 2013, he also led the Major Leagues with 50 saves.

In 2011, Kimbrel was the National League Rookie of the Year. Then in 2018, Kimbrel was part of the Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series. The Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

This season, Kimbrel pitched one inning for the Braves in a 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. He threw 14 pitches and had one strikeout.

The Astros have a record of 70 wins and 58 losses. They lead the American League West by two games over the Seattle Mariners.