One of the more surprising moves the Kansas City Royals made this season was opting to bring in veteran closer Craig Kimbrel. When the Royals signed Kimbrel to a cheap one-year deal in early August, the franchise was cemented at the bottom of the AL Central and had nothing of note to play for.
There was reason to wonder whether or not this was the right decision, as Kimbrel would eat innings that perhaps would be better utilized by younger arms that could give the Royals a glimpse of the future. However, the aging reliever has wasted zero time wiping away this notion, being a shocking source of stability.
Kimbrel has pitched 8.0 innings in his short KC tenure and given up zero runs and just two hits. This speaks to a wise front office move, as much as those typically elude general manager J.J. Picollo. It also provides the Royals with a surprise contributor for the 2027 season.
If Kimbrel is able to finish the season performing at this level, there simply is no debate that the Royals should bring the veteran back. Cheap innings from a near 40-year-old with extensive high-leverage experience is a clear win. He can help Kansas City when needed on the mound and be a sounding board for the youngsters in the bullpen as well.
Royals move to add Craig Kimbrel already paying off better than expected
Over the last two seasons, Kimbrel spent time with the Braves, Rays, Mets, and Astros, with each team quickly coming to the same conclusion and pushing the veteran off the roster. It appeared Kimbrel was in his final season until the Royals offered this opportunity that the aging right-hander hasn't hesitated to take full advantage of.
Kansas City is utilizing the meaningless innings left not only to put Kimbrel's career back on track, but to look at the possible fit the veteran could be in the future. After a dismal 2026 season, the franchise is going to need to not only make splashy moves but also find cheap depth, and Kimbrel is proving to be just that for Kansas City.
The only question is whether these results can continue over the final month of the season. While maintaining a perfect ERA might be a bit lofty, the Royals simply need Kimbrel to continue to show that he has figured out how to pitch without blowing batters away as he once did.
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