ATLANTA — Nine-time MLB All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is attempting to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves, his original team.
Kimbrel and catcher James McCann have agreed to minor league contracts, the Braves confirmed Wednesday. Kimbrel will remain at the team’s spring training site when Atlanta opens the regular season March 27, then will report to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Kimbrel, a 36-year-old right-hander, was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 24 with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 29 chances. The right-hander has pitched in 837 games, and his 440 saves rank fifth in Major League Baseball history. If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $2 million salary while in the major leagues.
Atlanta is hoping to find the version of Kimbrel who posted a 2.80 ERA with all of his 23 saves and 53 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings for the Orioles before the midseason break for the MLB All-Star Game last season. Kimbrel faded after the break with a 10.59 ERA in 10 games.
“Hopefully he can replicate what he did the first half of last year,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday. “It would be awesome if he could come in and do that.