(Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles were the best team in the American League during the regular season, winning 101 games.
A big part of that success can be attributed to closer Felix Bautista, who dominated hitters and was as close to a sure thing as pitchers get.
However, he got hurt and will be out for the entire 2024 campaign with Tommy John surgery.
The Orioles, therefore, were forced to go to the market and find a new late-inning reliever to form a tandem with the equally dominant Yennier Cano.
They got their man, signing Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal with a club option for 2025.
MLB insider Jeff Passan explains the important of bringing in a talented, experienced stopper like Kimbrel.
“With Felix Bautista out for the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Craig Kimbrel will enter the year as the favorite to close games for Baltimore. Yennier Cano also will pitch in late-inning, high-leverage situations,” he tweeted.
With Felix Bautista out for the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Craig Kimbrel will enters the year as the favorite to close games for Baltimore. Yennier Cano also will pitch in late-inning, high-leverage situations. @Ken_Rosenthal and @Joelsherman1 were on it.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 6, 2023
In normal circumstances, Cano would have been the setup man and Bautista the closer.
Now, with Bautista out and Kimbrel in, there is no telling what the O’s will do.
Still, the most likely scenario has Cano setting up and Kimbrel, who has 417 career saves and has been one of the best closers of his generation, serving as the ninth-inning guy.
Kimbrel was very solid in 2023 for the Philadelphia Phillies, even if he didn’t quite show his most dominant version.
He posted a 3.26 ERA and 23 saves in 69 innings, striking out a whopping 94 hitters in the process.
The post Insider Explains Importance Of Latest Orioles Addition appeared first on The Cold Wire.