The Atlanta Braves have signed closer Craig Kimbrel to a contract extension, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Kimbrel’s deal is worth $42 million over four seasons, with a team option for a fifth year. It buys out his three arbitration years and one free agent year, with a $13 million option for 2018, with a $1 million buyout. With performance bonuses, there’s a max value of $58.5 million over the life of the contract.
The deal comes as something of a surprise, as the two sides were $2.5 million apart when they exchanged arbitration figures earlier this offseason, and it appeared they would go towards a hearing. Given how dominant Kimbrel has been, there was a lack of precedent for a closer going through arbitration for the first time.
The 25 year-old Kimbrel has had one of the most dominant three year runs in reliever history. In a little more than three seasons for the Braves, he has a 1.39 ERA with a shockingly high 43.2 percent strikeout rate. Opposing hitters have hit just .155 against Kimbrel. His upper 90’s fastball and devastating slider have allowed him to save a total of 139 games.
Kimbrel’s level of consistency and dominance over his first three seasons is unmatched. Teams are wisely shying away from ponying up big money for relief pitchers, but if any reliever deserves a contract worth more than $40 million, it’s Kimbrel.
It’s been a busy offseason for the Braves, who had already signed first baseman Freddie Freeman and starting pitcher Julio Teheran to multi-year deals, and bought out Jason Heyward‘s final two years of arbitration. While the team may not be able to afford Heyward, shorstop Andrelton Simmons is a candidate for a long-term deal.
