Mets Call Up Nine-Time All-Star Reliever Kimbrel, DFA Lovelady

The veteran closer will join the Mets' bullpen after signing a minor-league deal in the offseason.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:11pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher's delivery, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a veteran relief pitcher's return to the major leagues, as the Mets look to bolster their bullpen amid rotation injuries.Port St. Lucie Today

The New York Mets have called up nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel and designated left-handed pitcher Richard Lovelady for assignment to make room on the 26-man roster. Kimbrel, 37, signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in January that guaranteed him $2.5 million for the season once added to the active roster. He chose to remain with the organization after not making the Mets' Opening Day roster, though he had a rolling opt-out that allowed him to sign with another club if presented with an opportunity in the majors.

Why it matters

Kimbrel is fifth all-time with 440 career saves and will provide veteran experience and high-leverage relief for the Mets' bullpen. His addition comes as the Mets deal with some injury concerns in their starting rotation, with Clay Holmes' status for his next start uncertain due to left hamstring tightness.

The details

Kimbrel stayed in Port St. Lucie when the Mets broke camp for the regular season. He appeared in one game for Low-A St. Lucie, tossing a perfect inning with one strikeout and touching 94.2 mph on the radar gun. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the team is excited to have Kimbrel, who will assume a different role with Devin Williams entrenched as the Mets' closer. Kimbrel hasn't been a full-time closer since his disastrous 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles.

  • Kimbrel signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in January 2026.
  • Kimbrel stayed in Port St. Lucie when the Mets broke camp for the regular season.
  • Kimbrel appeared in one game for Low-A St. Lucie on April 8, 2026, tossing a perfect inning with one strikeout.

The players

Craig Kimbrel

A nine-time All-Star reliever who is fifth all-time with 440 career saves. He signed a minor-league deal with the Mets in January 2026 that guaranteed him $2.5 million for the season once added to the active roster.

Richard Lovelady

A left-handed pitcher who was designated for assignment by the Mets to make room on the 26-man roster for Kimbrel.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets.

Devin Williams

The Mets' current closer, with Kimbrel expected to assume a different high-leverage role in the bullpen.

Clay Holmes

A Mets starting pitcher who exited his last start with left hamstring tightness and is trending toward making his next start.

Sean Manaea

A Mets pitcher who has been in the bullpen but could replace Clay Holmes in the rotation if Holmes is unable to make his next start.

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What they’re saying

“I think towards the end of camp I was feeling pretty good. It just might have been a little too late. In the last two weeks I've just been focusing on maybe putting on a little bit more weight. I've been in the weight room quite a bit and just continue working on the pitches I've been working on and I've been pretty happy with how they've progressed. The velocity has been pretty good and consistent. The body feels good.”

— Craig Kimbrel

“The fact that he decided to stay back, continue to work, continue to get stronger, and waited for his opportunity, he didn't have to do that. This is a guy who is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career and he did that. And here he is getting an opportunity. I feel like he still has a lot to offer and [can] help us in a lot of different ways and just excited to have him.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

“If the game calls for a high-leverage, I'm not going to hesitate. This guy is well on his way to being a Hall of Famer here. It's not like a guy that's coming up to the big leagues for the first time. He's been in those roles for a long time and had a pretty successful career. Depending on who's available, where the game is at, I won't hesitate.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

What’s next

The Mets will monitor Clay Holmes' status and determine if he will make his next scheduled start. If Holmes is unable to go, Sean Manaea is the leading candidate to replace him in the rotation.

The takeaway

The addition of veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel provides the Mets with an experienced high-leverage arm to complement closer Devin Williams, as the team navigates some early-season injury concerns in their starting rotation.