Craig Kimbrel, a veteran reliever, has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays after opting out of a minor league assignment with the New York Mets. The 37-year-old faced challenges during his time with the Mets, recording a 6.00 ERA over 15 innings. Initially, Kimbrel showed promise by not allowing an earned run in his first four appearances but struggled significantly afterward, giving up 10 earned runs in his next 11 1/3 innings. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed respect for Kimbrel, acknowledging his professionalism. Now with the Rays, Kimbrel hopes to revitalize his career, joining a team known for its effective pitching program. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 4.99 ERA while playing for the Braves, Orioles, Astros, and Mets. Despite his recent struggles, Kimbrel has a distinguished career with a 2.65 ERA and ranks fifth in MLB history with 440 saves, though he faces an uphill battle to catch Lee Smith’s record of 478 saves.