NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel joined his 10th major league team Saturday when the New York Mets selected his contract from Class A St. Lucie.<\/p>\n
A 37-year-old right-hander, Kimbrel is fifth in the career saves behind Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601) along with Lee Smith and Kenley Jansen (both 478).<\/p>\n
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Kimbrel replaced mop-up man Richard Lovelady, who was designated for assignment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the game calls for a high leverage, I\u2019m not going to hesitate,\u201d manager manager Carlos Mendoza said of Kimbrel. \u201cWell on his way to being a Hall of Famer. It\u2019s not like a guy that\u2019s coming up to the big leagues for the first time. He\u2019s been in those roles for a long time and had a pretty successful career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kimbrel had a 2.25 ERA in 14 games last season with Atlanta and Houston.<\/p>\n
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He agreed in January to a deal with the Mets that specified if he was added to the 40-man roster he would get a $2.5 million salary while in the major leagues and a $350,000 salary while in the minors. While in the majors, he can earn $1 million in performance bonuses for games pitched: $200,000 each for 20 and each additional five through 40.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy body feels good,\u201d Kimbrel said. \u201cReady to take the ball and do whatever I need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kimbrel hasn\u2019t gotten a save since July 7, 2024, with Baltimore. He had a sore back late in the season and had an 11.50 ERA in his final 19 appearances.<\/p>\n
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He pitched a scoreless inning for St. Lucie on Tuesday in his only minor league appearance this year. He threw nine pitches: six fastballs that averaged 93.5 mph along with one each of a cutter, sweeper and knuckle-curve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get an adrenaline boost every time I get an opportunity to pitch in a big league ballgame,\u201d Kimbrel said. \u201cSomebody told me a long time go as soon as that goes away, it\u2019s time to go home. And I still have that excitement and driven to go out there and compete and put on a jersey and represent a city, wherever that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
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