Mets Calling Up Veteran Reliever Craig Kimbrel

The 37-year-old reliever signed a minor-league deal with the Mets during spring training.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:56pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp, overlapping planes in muted tones of navy, forest green, and burnt orange, conveying the raw energy and movement of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a veteran reliever's explosive pitching motion, reflecting the Mets' belief that Craig Kimbrel can still contribute to their bullpen.Port St. Lucie Today

The New York Mets are calling up veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, who signed a minor-league deal with the team during spring training. Kimbrel, a 37-year-old right-hander, has a career 3.58 ERA and 440 saves, the fifth-most in MLB history. He will join a Mets bullpen that has been effective early in the season, with a 2.85 ERA in 14 games.

Why it matters

Adding Kimbrel to the roster will boost the value of his contract up to $2.5 million and provide the Mets' bullpen with more strikeout stuff behind closer Devin Williams. While the Mets' bullpen has been solid so far, the team believes Kimbrel can still help them this season.

The details

Kimbrel allowed three runs and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and five walks during Grapefruit League play. Concerns about his velocity and control kept him off the Mets' Opening Day roster, but he has since built himself up at the team's spring complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida. After an appearance for the Mets' Single-A affiliate on Tuesday, during which he reached 94.2 mph with his fastball, the team decided he was ready to be called up.

  • Kimbrel signed a minor-league deal with the Mets during spring training.
  • Kimbrel made an appearance for the Mets' Single-A affiliate on Tuesday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Craig Kimbrel

A 37-year-old veteran reliever who has a career 3.58 ERA and 440 saves, the fifth-most in MLB history.

Devin Williams

The Mets' established closer.

David Stearns

The Mets' president of baseball operations.

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What they’re saying

“We continue to believe he can help us this year; he wants to help us.”

— David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations

“We have a stable pen so far. We haven't made a move, but eventually we will. He's certainly a candidate when we have an opportunity.”

— David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations

What’s next

The Mets have not officially announced Kimbrel's call-up, but he is expected to be activated before Saturday's game against the Athletics.

The takeaway

The addition of veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to the Mets' bullpen could provide a boost to their already effective relief corps, as the team believes he can still contribute despite concerns about his velocity and control earlier in spring training.