Craig Kimbrel Pitched 15 Innings, Gave Up 10 Runs, and the Mets Had No Choice But to Cut Him

Can you even believe what just went down in New York? The Mets just dropped the hammer on veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, designating him for assignment on Friday after what can only be described as a super brief and honestly, pretty rough, stint. It’s wild to think about, especially for a guy with his incredible resume. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called the whole decision "Super tough," and you can almost hear the strain in his voice. Kimbrel, to his immense credit, "understood" the situation and was "very professional," but you know that conversation last night definitely wasn't "an easy one" for Mendoza to have. This is the big leagues, though, and sometimes tough calls have to be made.

What Went Wrong For a Nine-Time All-Star?

Talk about a surprise! Kimbrel, who just signed a free agent deal in January, made the Mets his tenth major league stop in a storied 17-year career. I mean, we’re talking about a nine-time All-Star here, a guy who’s racked up 440 saves. You’d think that kind of experience would be a rock in any bullpen, right? But something just wasn't clicking in the Big Apple. In the 14 games he actually pitched for New York, he coughed up a painful 10 runs across a mere 15 innings. That's a tough stat line for any reliever, let alone a 37-year-old with his pedigree. We all saw the moments that hurt, like Wednesday in their 8-4 loss to Washington, where Kimbrel pitched the final 2⅔ innings and gave up a crushing two-run home run to Jacob Young. You just hate to see it happen to a legend.

The Brutal Reality of the Game

It wasn't like he was completely lost out there. Kimbrel did manage to string together nine scoreless outings, which definitely shows flashes of that old dominant form we all remember. That makes the whole situation even more frustrating, doesn't it? But then you look at the other side of the coin: in three of his five other appearances, he got absolutely rocked, giving up multiple runs. That kind of inconsistency, that unpredictability, is just brutal in the unforgiving world of major league baseball. It’s a bummer to see a player with such an incredible career hit this kind of snag. Now, another club can claim the guy off waivers. Will someone take a shot on the future Hall of Famer? Maybe a change of scenery is exactly what a player like Kimbrel needs to rekindle that magic. We’ll be watching to see where he lands. Alright, enough about the East Coast bullpen drama! You wanna know what's REALLY cooking? OUR Mariners, baby! While all that was going down, our guys were out there getting it DONE. How about that game last night? Seattle took down the Kansas City Royals with a clean 2-0 shutout! That’s a dominant performance, folks! It shows the grit and determination our team has this season. That’s a big, beautiful W for the Emerald City! Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez are out there making plays, helping us grind. Let’s keep that momentum rolling and cheer on our squad as we push deeper into the season! What a time to be a Mariners fan. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.