Erratic Closer Craig Kimbrel Loses Roster Spot With Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles finally had enough of Craig Kimbrel.

The 36-year-old closer, finishing up a one-year, $13 million contract, was designated for assignment Wednesday after a horrendous second half.

Even before he yielded six runs to San Francisco Tuesday, Kimbrel was on thin ice.

He had lost his job as a closer and posted brutal statistics after July 14.

Bastille Day struck the hard-throwing right-hander especially hard.

Since that time, he allowed five home runs in 18 innings, giving up 25 runs (23 earned) and 23 hits plus 17 walks.

Originally signed by Baltimore after incumbent closer Felix Bautista went down with Tommy John elbow surgery last fall, Kimbrel started well, with a 2.10 earned run average and a solid strikeout rate.

After converting 23 of his first 28 save chances, however, Kimbrel hit hard times, posting a 10.59 ERA in 18 second-half outings before losing his job as closer.

Signing Kimbrel in the first place almost seemed like a move made out of desperation; he pitched poorly for Philadelphia in the playoffs last October and the Phillies were not inclined to keep him.

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On the other hand, the 6-0, 215-pound native of Huntsville, AL still has statistics that could send him to Cooperstown: a 2.59 career ERA and 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 15 seasons, divided among eight different teams.

The one-time National League Rookie of the Year led the Senior Circuit in saves for four straight seasons, 2011-14, and made the All-Star team nine times.

Kimbrel ranks fifth with 440 saves and is only six behind fellow closer Kenley Jansen for fourth on the lifetime list. Either pitcher could catch Hall of Famer Lee Smith for third all-time at 478 but climbing beyond 600 alongside Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman isn’t likely.

Known for peering into his catcher with his arms arched like a human DeLorean, the bearded pitcher had been hampered by bouts of wildness. That uncertainty, plus a calendar that shows him approaching his 37th birthday next May, could hamper Kimbrel’s ability to win a new deal.

Any club that claims him off waivers would have to pay a pro-rated portion of his contract. If he’s released, however, any signing club would only have to pay a pro-rated portion of the major-league minimum while the Orioles pay what’s left of his remaining guaranteed contract, which contains a $1 million buyout.

Bryan Baker was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to take Kimbrel’s roster spot, though trade acquisition Seranthony Dominguez had already claimed his job.

Cutting him with less than two weeks remaining on the schedule reportedly did not sit well with starter Corbin Burnes, a prospective free agent who called Kimbrel a clubhouse leader. Baltimore hopes to re-sign Burnes, who arrived from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade last winter.

Kimbrel leaves Baltimore with a 7-5 record and 5.33 ERA. His second-half stumbles were one of the big reasons the Orioles blew a first-half lead in the American League East and fell to four-and-a-half games behind the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

He would not qualify for the playoffs if he’s signed by a team that reaches post-season play.