Mets Activate Craig Kimbrel as Season Enters Second Week The New York Mets made a significant roster move just days into the 2025 season by activating right-handed reliever Craig Kimbrel from their minor league affiliate, marking a pivotal moment for the team’s bullpen. The decision came ahead of Saturday’s game, with the club also designating left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment. Kimbrel, a 37-year-old veteran with a storied career, signed a $2.5 million minor league contract that became guaranteed upon his activation. The move signals the Mets’ confidence in his ability to contribute as a high-leverage reliever, despite recent struggles in maintaining his velocity and control. Kimbrel’s callup was not entirely unexpected, as he had been a favorite to break camp with the Mets during spring training. However, his performance during the pre-season was marred by velocity issues and inconsistent command, which kept him sidelined. Despite these challenges, Kimbrel chose to remain in Port St. Lucie, Florida, rather than opt out of his contract. His decision to stay paid off with a strong debut for Single-A St. Lucie, where he reached a top speed of 94.2 mph—a slight improvement from his spring training outings. The Mets’ activation of Kimbrel came just days after his first appearance with the team, during a 11-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics. In his debut, Kimbrel pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing a single and a line drive to the warning track while striking out two batters. While his velocity dipped slightly from his spring training performance, the outing was seen as a positive step forward.#new_york_mets #oakland_athletics #craig_kimbrel #port_st_lucie #single_a_st_lucie
Mets Call Up Nine-Time All-Star Reliever Craig Kimbrel, DFA Lefty Lovelady The New York Mets made roster adjustments on Saturday by calling up nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel and designating left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment. The move clears space on the 26-man active roster, with Kimbrel joining the team after a long journey through multiple organizations. Kimbrel, 37, signed a minor league deal with the Mets in January that guaranteed him $2.5 million for the season once he was added to the active roster. He opted to remain with the organization after not making the Mets’ Opening Day roster, despite having a rolling opt-out clause that would have allowed him to sign with another team if presented with a major league opportunity. According to a source, Kimbrel chose to stay with the Mets, continuing to work on his physical conditioning and pitching mechanics during spring training. “I think towards the end of camp, I was feeling pretty good,” Kimbrel said. “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.” Kimbrel made his major league debut on Saturday, throwing a scoreless seventh inning in the Mets’ 11-6 loss to the Athletics. The inning included two strikeouts, marking his fourth consecutive scoreless frame for the team. Kimbrel stayed in Port St. Lucie, Florida, after the Mets broke camp for the regular season, where he appeared in one game for Low-A St. Lucie. He tossed a perfect inning with one strikeout, throwing nine pitches and touching 94.2 mph.#atlanta_braves #new_york_mets #carlos_mendoza #craig_kimbrel #richard_lovelady
