The Phillies have agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with reliever Craig Kimbrel, according to a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Kimbrel, who turns 35 in May, is seventh on the all-time list in career saves with 394. He will reach 2023 trying to join the 400 save club, which includes only Panamanian Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Lee Smith (478), Venezuelan Francisco Rodríguez (437), John Franco (424) and Billy Wagner (422).
However, Kimbrel will also try to re-establish himself as a dominant closer after a few stumbles.
After joining the White Sox at the 2021 trade deadline, Kimbrel posted a 5.09 ERA in 63 appearances down the stretch of that season. And after signing a one-year deal with the Dodgers in 2022, the right-hander had a 3.75 ERA in 63 games, but was ultimately ousted from the closer’s role by manager Dave Roberts in September.
Although Kimbrel struck out 72 in 60.0 innings last season, his 10.8 K per 9.0 innings was by far the lowest rate of his career.