Former Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel is already being tossed aside by the Orioles.
Craig Kimbrel has had a difficult start to his career in Baltimore.
Craig Kimbrel, the former Philadelphia Phillies closer, is still giving his new team fits. It appears that the Baltimore Orioles may have had enough of the veteran’s late-inning shenanigans. According to recent sources, the Orioles (27-14) are already looking for a replacement among potential trade deadline sellers.
Kimbrel’s brief stint in Baltimore has been unpleasant to say the least. He just lost his close position after being inconsistent in save circumstances.
In 16 ninth-inning appearances, the 35-year-old has allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eleven hits and nine walks. He has three blown saves and was recently demoted to setup role for Yennier Cano. He has a 3.86 ERA this season, and while his strikeout percentage is up to 36.2%, his walk rate has risen to 13.0%.
However, he hasn’t been terrible this season. After blowing his first save opportunity as an Oriole, he sorted himself out for the majority of April. He went on a seven-save, two-win streak, missing only one opportunity before things fell apart at the end of the month.
Between April 28 and May 3, the veteran squandered two of three save opportunities, prompting Orioles manager Brandon Hyde to lose patience. On May 4, Hyde yanked Kimbrel just as he was about to squander another save against the Reds. He has not recorded a save since, however he has four holds.
Former Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel already getting kicked aside by the Orioles
Despite Hyde’s statement before their May 10 game that he intended to return to and remain with Kimbrel as the closer, according to MLB.com’s Jake Rill, Kimbrel entered the game in the seventh.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Baltimore management has already held internal discussions about finding another closer for their expected pennant drive down the stretch.
The AL East winners from a year ago appear to be considering Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano, and Houston Astros’ Ryan Pressly as potential contenders.
Phillies supporters should not be surprised to hear this news from Baltimore, given Kimbrel’s late-season difficulties and postseason meltdowns last year. Watching the decorated reliever implode from a safe distance is far more enjoyable.
Despite some mishaps in the Phillies’ bullpen throughout the first six weeks of the season, the relief corps has been one of the most valuable in the majors, with 2.2 fWAR, the second-highest, in the third-fewest innings pitched.
We’d gladly take the Phillies’ current position over what’s going on in the Orioles bullpen.
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