Craig Kimbrel signs with Astros after being DFA’d by Braves earlier in season

Craig Kimbrel has found himself back in the Major Leagues.

Kimbrel, 37, signed a contract with the Astros on Thursday, according to ESPN.

The nine-time All-Star’s deal with Houston marks his ninth Major League team of his career, and the seventh since 2021.

Kimbrel was previously with the Braves earlier this season but threw just one inning with the team before being designated for assignment in June.

Over the past two months, Kimbrel was pitching for the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate and posted a 3.86 ERA while striking out 28 in 21 innings pitched.

Houston’s decision to pick up Kimbrel comes as their bullpen performance has tumbled to start the second half of the season.

Since July 1, the Astros’ pitching staff has posted an abysmal 4.69 ERA, which is the sixth-worst in the MLB during that span.

Kimbrel’s last full season came in 2024 with the Orioles, where the righty put up an unimpressive 5.33 ERA with 23 saves in 57 appearances before being DFA’d in September.

The year prior, however, Kimbrel reached the All-Star game with Philadelphia where he helped the Phillies reach the NLCS.

Kimbrel was drafted by the Braves in the 3rd round of the 2008 MLB Draft and lead the NL in saves during his first four full seasons in the big leagues from 2011-14.

Across his 16-year tenure, the 2018 World Series winner has posted a career 2.59 ERA and ranks second in saves among active players with 440.

The veteran’s short-lived reunion in Atlanta earlier this season was met with harsh criticism from fans that believed Kimbrel was done wrong by Braves management.

Nevertheless, former MLB general manager Dave Samson said Kimbrel was likely aware of his situation, and that the Braves probably let him know beforehand.

“For what ever reason, you’re under the impression that Craig Kimbrel was upset about this,” Samson said on his “Nothing Personal” podcast in June. “As if the Braves didn’t communicate to Craig Kimbrel was is going on.”