Feedback from Hyde and Orioles players on decision to DFA Kimbrel

Craig Kimbel’s old locker is empty except for a row of hangers. His belongings are gone.

The former closer has left the building.

The Orioles designated Kimbrel for assignment earlier today and recalled reliever Bryan Baker. They made the move after he was charged last night with a career-high six runs in two-thirds of an inning, the last straw with his chances for inclusion on the playoff roster dissolved a while ago.

“Tough day,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We have so much respect for Craig and his career and what he’s done for the game, how long he’s pitched, how long he’s pitched well. So it’s never easy to say goodbye to somebody who’s done a lot.”

Kimbrel, 36, was an All-Star snub after posting a 2.80 ERA and 0.962 WHIP in 39 appearances, but he had a 10.59 ERA and 2.177 WHIP in 18 games since the break and never responded to a second reset.

“Heck of a first half for us, helped us win a ton of games,” Hyde said. “He’s an amazing teammate, he’s incredible in the clubhouse and just a class, class act. So not an easy day.

“We were talking about our roster and our players on a nightly basis. Sometimes those decisions take a few days, sometimes it’s longer depending on the situation and the player and kind of where we are roster-wise. We discuss everything every day.”

Kimbrel received $12 million guaranteed this season and his contract, finalized at the Winter Meetings, included a $13 million option and $1 million buyout in 2025. He recorded 23 saves, the last on July 7, to raise his career total to 440 that ranks fifth all-time.

“I just think he never got rolling in the second half,” Hyde said. “He had that one reset in the first half and that really helped him. He had a lot of success for two months just closing out and pitching in close games and doing a great job for us, and then right at the end of the first half, the game here against New York, that was a struggle, and never got rolling after the All-Star break after that.”

“I think there’s probably a lot that goes into it,” said catcher James McCann. “There were flashes of it throughout the course of the second half and it just didn’t go his way. I think for him, he’s got a Hall of Fame track record and unfortunately there’s a rough patch for a couple months. But for us in here, it doesn’t change who he was as a teammate and it definitely doesn’t change what he’s done in his career.”

McCann said he talked to Kimbrel about adjustments made by former closer and teammate Francisco Rodríguez, whose 437 saves rank sixth on the all-time list.

"I caught Francisco Rodríguez at the end of his career," McCann said. "When he first up he was blowing 100 by everyone, and by the end of his career he was throwing more changeups than he was fastballs because his fastball was 88-to-91. So that's something that happens to a lot of guys is they have to figure out a new pitch repertoire. Obviously they're not changing pitches but maybe their usage, and that was something that he battled and maybe tried to fix, and unfortunately it just didn't happen quick enough or didn't happen."

Hyde put Kimbrel is reduced-pressure situations, whether in set-up or mop-up, but he allowed runs in 11 of his last 19 appearances and his fastball velocity declined.

“It wasn’t fair, honestly, last night,” Hyde said. “I hadn’t pitched him in a week, and expect a guy to go out there and get three quick outs after not pitching for seven days, that’s putting someone in a tough spot. I tried to give him some low-leverage spots. I pitched him in a couple tie games when we had other guys down those days, and it seemed like when there were runners on base, he had a tough time kind of getting through the inning or not allowing the run to score. Unfortunately, I never got him on a roll the second half.”

Kimbrel could land in Cooperstown after he retires. Hyde has offered endorsements on multiple occasions, including again today. And that status made it harder to break the news to the nine-time All-Star.

“As you know, I have so much respect for major league players,” Hyde said. “He’s a Hall of Famer for me, and so to have that conversation about, this is the time, that’s never easy. Craig’s done some amazing things in his career, and to able to pitch in the innings he’s pitched for that long and that type of pressure, it’s only a handful of guys who have been able to do that. So I have a ton of respect for that.”

The Orioles made Kimbrel an offseason priority with Félix Bautista recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bautista had huge spikes to fill and not only because of his size. He was an All-Star who placed 11^th in Cy Young voting after posting a 1.48 ERA and 0.918 WHIP with 33 saves and averaging an astounding 16.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s expected to be ready for next Opening Day.

“What Félix did last year plus, that’s not normal, that’s what (Emmanuel) Clase’s doing,” Hyde said. “There’s only so many guys that have been in the league that can have that type of impact late in the game. Félix was pitching the nineth and then going back out for the 10^th in tie games on the road and it was game over. That’s not normal and that was a luxury. We won a lot of games because of that.

“I just wanted Craig to be himself. It wasn’t him trying to replace Bautista. We wanted him to do the best job he could at the end of the game.”

The responsibility largely falls on Seranthony Domínguez, acquired from the Phillies at the deadline. He’s recorded nine saves and posted a 3.26 ERA and 1.034 WHIP in 20 appearances, with four walks and 26 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. He’s also surrendered six home runs, including a pair of walk-offs at Citi Field.

“When we got him in the trade, it wasn’t the next day we’re saying Seranthony’s going to be the closer now,” Hyde said. “It was more of need at that point because Craig was struggling a little bit. Seranthony pitched a couple seventh or eighth innings when he first got here and looked good. We’re looking for guys to be able to pitch at the end of games and searching a little bit.”

“For the most part he’s done a really good job. He’s tough to hit, so take your chance.”

Players trust and support Domínguez, but they’re disappointed that Kimbrel couldn’t work through his issues and stay with them as a leader and friend. His absence was felt this afternoon.

“It’s tough walking in and seeing his locker empty,” McCann said. “Craig meant a lot to this team throughout the season. Arguably had an All-Star first half, was very big for us. Who he was as a player on the field for us was important, but also who he was in this clubhouse, being a veteran guy, fun-loving guy, made the clubhouse a better place.

“It’s been tough watching him grind trying to make adjustments and figure out what’s going on. You feel for teammates when they’re going through tough times but especially when they’re such a good teammate, such a good person like Craig Kimbrel is.”

Reliever Yennier Cano was in the trainers’ room getting treatment on his forearm – he said the tightness was gone and didn’t extend to his elbow - and he didn’t know about Kimbrel’s DFA until shortly before the media approached him.

“Obviously hearing that news is never a great thing,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “None of us want to be let go, and he’s honestly had a great career. He’s had a lot of success in this league. The last couple months haven’t gone the way that he may have wanted, but we know the type of pitcher he is and he’s been great his whole career. Difficult news, for sure.”

Players come and go over the course of a season, whether due to injuries, poor play or a roster crunch. Kimbrel is just the latest.

“It’s a little sad because you grind it out with somebody for a while and all of a sudden they’re gone,” Hyde said. “I think our guys know that it’s been a tough stretch. We’re missing some guys, but that’s not an excuse. There’s other guys missing people, too, and you have to try to step up the best you possibly can. I think at times we’re probably trying to step up too much, and that’s been part of the issue. Hopefully we can just relax these last 10-plus games and play good baseball.”