The Baltimore Orioles made a significant move on their roster by designating veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment. This decision comes on the heels of Kimbrel's recent struggles on the mound, culminating in a dismal performance against the San Francisco Giants where he allowed six runs on three hits and two walks.
Kimbrel, a 36-year-old pitcher, has seen a rapid decline in his effectiveness since the All-Star break. After maintaining a respectable 2.80 ERA before the break, his ERA skyrocketed to 5.33 over his last 18 appearances. During this tumultuous period, Kimbrel gave up 22 runs (20 earned) on 22 hits and 15 walks, striking out 20 batters across 17 innings, which equates to an ERA of 10.59. Once a cornerstone in the bullpen, Kimbrel was removed from the closer's role, with Seranthony Domínguez stepping in for the past month.
Despite Kimbrel's recent decline, his career milestones remain impressive. He ranks fifth all-time in saves and second among active pitchers in that category. However, this season marks the third time since 2019 that Kimbrel's ERA+ has dipped below 90, highlighting his inconsistency in recent years.
Orioles Promote Bryan Baker
In a corresponding move, the Orioles have promoted right-hander Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk. Baker, 29, has been a steady presence at the major league level this season, making 17 appearances. Over his career, he has logged 130 appearances with an overall ERA+ of 108. The Orioles are hopeful that Baker can provide some much-needed stability to their bullpen during this critical stretch of the season.
A Season of Struggles
The Orioles find themselves in a precarious position as they navigate the latter part of the season. Holding a 26-29 record since the All-Star break, the team is currently four games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings. However, they still maintain a four-game cushion in the AL wild-card race. The team's performance has been inconsistent, leading to frustrations both on and off the field.
Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias summed up the team's current state, saying, "The mojo that we've had has just drifted away from us the last few months." Pointing to both obvious and nuanced reasons for the downturn, Elias added, "There are reasons for it that are obvious, but a lot of it is we've got people here that are experiencing a downturn—whether it's themselves or the team."
Looking Ahead
As the Orioles continue to push for a postseason berth, the spotlight will be on how the bullpen can adapt and overcome the challenges that have plagued them. The promotion of Bryan Baker signals a potential shift towards finding new solutions from within the organization. Baker's consistency and experience could be pivotal in stabilizing a bullpen that has been volatile in recent weeks.
Craig Kimbrel's time with the Orioles may be ending on a sour note, but his career achievements keep him a notable figure in baseball. Whether he can rediscover his form with another team remains to be seen. For now, the Orioles must focus on rallying behind their new bullpen configuration and striving to capture the postseason energy that has eluded them for much of the second half of the season.
