Craig Kimbrel's early success with Royals makes free agent faith in him look like stroke of genius

The Kansas City Royals have been one of the more active teams on the midseason transaction market this season. However, one signing that fans were likely scratching their heads about when it was made was the one that brought Craig Kimbrel in on a major league contract. Sure, Kimbrel is all but likely set for the Hall of Fame as one of baseball's best career closers, but his prime days are well behind him and there was a reason both the Mets and Rays cut him loose this season.

However, based on his early results since donning a Royals uniform, you wouldn't know that Kimbrel is firmly in the twilight stage in his career. While he may not be blowing hitters away like the Kimbrel of old, through 5.1 innings of work across five outings he's sporting a perfect 0.00 ERA with a 0.56 WHIP and .071 BAA.

This stretch has also included Kimbrel notching save number 441 in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Tigers, which narrowed the gap between him at fifth and Lee Smith at fourth to 37. Whether or not he moves up in the ranks remains to be seen, but the fact he's even performing to the rate of being worthy of save opportunities should exceed many expectations for him in Kansas City - and that's saying a lot considering the Royals have been putrid in closing out games in the ninth in 2026.

And amid the Royals' current eight-game winning streak, it's worth noting the impact he's made to help improve this bullpen to a state where a stretch like this is even achievable.

As good as Craig Kimbrel has been, he's likely not lasting solution in Royals' bullpen

Now, Kimbrel is great feel-good story for the Royals in a season where there hasn't been many moments to cheer about. However, looking at the reality of where he is in his career, as good a run as he's been on since putting on the Royal blue, fans shouldn't expect to see him in this bullpen beyond 2026.

Let's call a spade a spade, Kimbrel is a 38-year-old veteran who's played 17 seasons in the majors. On top of that he's been on a steady arguably since he left Atlanta way back in 2014, but for sure since leaving Boston after the 2018 season.

While he wasn't terrible with the Rays - sporting a sub-4.00 ERA in 18.2 innings - and as we've established he has looked great with the Royals early on, there have certainly been red flags to his game. As an arm in his late-30s, no one is expecting him to be the 16.00+ K/9 reliever that he was in his peak with the Braves and Red Sox, but an 8.08 K/9 rate across all three stops this season and a 5.06 K/9 total with the Royals in particular is an alarming drop off.

On top of that, his 3.09 FIP with the Royals and 4.16 combined FIP in 2026, alongside below average expected metrics of a 4.23 xERA and .240 xBA shows that his current lights-out form in Kansas City is all but likely unsustainable. Not to mention, on top of the diminished strikeout rate, his 11.3% walk rate on the year is well-below average, so the command has some legitimate concerns.

Kimbrel's a journeyman now and even with the lowly state the Royals bullpen has reached in 2026, owner John Sherman, whether or not misguided, seemed right in one sense a few weeks again in a interview when he focused on young players being a focal point to building their 'pen this offseason. As good a story as this is and how nice it will be to hopefully get some more Royals representation in the Hall of Fame one day, Kimbrel just isn't a piece to build around and hasn't been for the better part of a decade now.

It's time to just enjoy the good times right now while they last and tip your cap to the major league scouting department for coming up with an unexpected win.

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