BALTIMORE — The Tampa Bay Rays signed reliever Craig Kimbrel to a major league contract on May 26, 2026. To clear a roster spot, the team placed Jesse Scholtens on the 15-day injured list with a right wrist strain.

Kimbrel joins the Rays after being designated for assignment by the New York Mets earlier in May 2026. He elected free agency after declining a minor league assignment from the Mets. During his time with New York in the 2026 season, Kimbrel posted a 6.00 ERA across 14 appearances, allowing 10 earned runs over 15 innings while striking out 15 batters. He also recorded a 1.47 WHIP, and opponents batted .286 against him—the highest mark of his career. Kimbrel surrendered three home runs during his stint with the Mets and finished with a -0.3 bWAR.

Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year, has accumulated 440 saves over his 17-year major league career, placing him fifth on MLB’s all-time saves list. He owns a career 2.65 ERA with 1,298 strikeouts in 866 appearances. In 2011, he began a four-season stretch leading the National League in saves with the Atlanta Braves. He won a World Series championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. Kimbrel has also pitched for the Padres, Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, Orioles, and Astros.

In 2024, Kimbrel recorded 23 saves for the Baltimore Orioles despite posting a 5.33 ERA and -1.0 bWAR. The following year, he appeared in 14 games split between the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, posting a 2.25 ERA across 12 innings with 17 strikeouts. He last recorded a save during the 2024 season.

The Rays, who held a 34-17 record as of May 26, 2026—the best in the American League—entered the transaction with a bullpen ERA of 4.40, ranked 21st in MLB. Kimbrel is expected to join the team in Baltimore on May 27, 2026.