Mets signed RHP Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
We thought Kimbrel might sign with one of the closer-less teams if he opted to continue his career, but that’s not the case here. The 37-year-old showed especially diminished velocity at the beginning of last year after signing with the Braves, but he did get it back some later on and wound up a 2.45 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11 innings with the Astros at the end of the year. One of the most successful relievers of all-time, Kimbrel has racked up 440 saves, putting him fifth on the career list. His 159 ERA+ is the 10th-best figure for anyone with 500 career innings since 1900.