Royals signing Craig Kimbrel is bizarre legacy move that complicates their stretch run

It's no secret that the Kansas City Royals have an issue when it comes pitching depth this season. It's also no secret that they have an issue with their bullpen, as they sit in the bottom two as unit in ERA, WHIP, FIP and BAA this year. So, to see them hit the free agent market for new names to help bolster their depth should come as no surprise. However, even if on paper it made sense to sign a reliever to the major league roster, the Royals signing veteran Craig Kimbrel on Sunday was certainly a shocking move.

There's no denying Kimbrel has an impressive resume, a Hall of Fame-worthy one perhaps. He's a career 2.67 ERA reliever who holds the fifth most saves in MLB history at 440. However, other than odd stretches here and there, Kimbrel hasn't really been a consistent lights out closer since he left Boston after the 2018 season. He has just two sub-3.00 ERA seasons since then, after having just one season above a 3.00 ERA in his first nine seasons in The Show.

And he's become a journey man after playing multiple full seasons for the first three teams of his career through 2020. Since 2021 though, Kimbrel has played for nine major league organizations and when he debuts with the Royals he'll make it an even 10. He has the numbers of a Hall of Famer, but it's not often you see a journeyman, especially one that's played 12 for teams in his career, reach Cooperstown.

Beyond, how strange this looks for Kimbrel personally, while they may need relievers this season, the fact the Royals went out and got a struggling veteran like Kimbrel seems like nothing more than a legacy move - and an unnecessary one at that considering they just added a series of names recently that could easily step in and do a job in a lost season.

Craig Kimbrel's signing robs Royals of chance to see what they have after trade deadline

While the Lane Thomas trade may've given the Royals the most upside of any deal they swung at the deadline, Lucas Braun is starter and Carter Holton is still a raw-looking prospect that needs more seasoning, possibly a few seasons worth - in the minors before being thrust into the fire. But the Royals added two more names before 6 p.m. ET last Monday that already have major league experience under their belt and years of control left that will see them factor into their plans beyond 2026.

Carlos Duran was the prized asset of the two. Before the trade in the Dodgers system, he was known as a strikeout artist, with 12.87 K/9 this season and over 9.00 K/9 at every minor league stop since 2021. Duran's made a major league appearance already and after the deadline GM J.J. Picollo didn't discount the chance he could debut with the major league squad soon.

Like Duran, there's some control concerns when it comes to Nolan Hoffman too. However, since 2024, Hoffman has yet to throw less than 10.49 K/9 at any given stop. While he didn't show that at the big league level with the Phillies this season, he did show that he could minimize the damage of his shortcomings, with a 3.86 ERA in his three outings.

On top of that, the recent additions after the trade deadline of Luke Little and Connor Thomas also offer plenty of upside for the Royals to call upon if they really wanted a fresh face.

Kimbrel undoubtedly offers name recognition that will get fans talking and adds a Hall of Fame buzz to a lost season. But if the season is truly lost, shouldn't the Royals be looking at what they have for when they want to be competitive again?

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