Just over a couple of weeks into the season, the New York Mets are already calling on a veteran arm with Hall of Fame credentials to strengthen their bullpen.
The team added right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel to the Major League roster ahead of Saturday’s game, designating left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment in a corresponding move. Kimbrel’s minor league deal, worth $2.5 million, became fully guaranteed once he was promoted.
Kimbrel expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying he is eager to contribute by delivering clean innings and helping the team win games.
The 37-year-old entered spring training as a strong candidate to make the Opening Day roster, but inconsistency with velocity and control kept him from breaking camp. Although he had the option to opt out of his deal, he chose to remain in the organization and continue working in Triple-A before earning his call-up.
He briefly appeared in Single-A action earlier in the week, where his fastball touched 94.2 mph—an improvement from his spring readings. In his Mets debut, a loss to the Athletics, he worked a scoreless inning, striking out two while showing flashes of his dominant form despite allowing a couple of hard-hit balls.
Kimbrel, a five-time All-Star, sits fifth all-time with 440 career saves, trailing only legends Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Kenley Jansen, and Lee Smith. However, recent seasons have been uneven, with a 4.76 ERA over the last two years as he has moved between teams and roles.
Despite that, his overall career remains elite, highlighted by a 2.58 ERA across 16 major league seasons.
He said the adrenaline of pitching in big-league games still drives him, adding that once that feeling fades, it may be time to walk away from the game.
On the other side, Lovelady exits after a series of short stints with the Mets, posting a 3.68 ERA in six appearances while often being used in high-pressure situations to cover innings and protect the bullpen during busy stretches.
