The Atlanta Braves botched the Craig Kimbrel reunion about as badly as possible. Signing the veteran in the first place was a bit of a surprise when Atlanta spent the entire offseason shying away from adding much-needed bullpen depth. When Kimbrel was putting together good minor league numbers, the team still delayed the inevitable. Calling the veteran up was a rare piece of good news and gave the former closer a chance to work a scoreless inning in San Francisco. There is no denying the results weren't up to expectations.
However, the reliever got the job done and is far from the worst option the pen has featured. The Braves didn't see things that way and kicked the franchise legend to the curb after one outing. Atlanta didn't have the decency to give Kimbrel an appearance before the home crowd or the exit the veteran deserved. Making this all the worse is the fact that the team jettisoned productive reliever Scott Blewett to make room for Kimbrel.
Craig Kimbrel Debacle Is the Perfect Encapsulation of Braves' Disastrous Season
#Braves outrighted RH Craig Kimbrel to Triple-A Gwinnett, and he elected free agency.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 9, 2025
Understandably, this didn't sit well with Kimbrel, who rejected his minor league assignment and has become a free agent. Despite how bad the breaking ball looked, it would be a surprise not to see the veteran earn another shot. This is based on both the desperation throughout the league for reliable bullpen options and the accomplished history of one of the game's best closers.
This is what makes Atlanta's management of the situation so completely frustrating. You don't call up a future Hall of Fame player only to jettison him after one game for a clear downgrade. This is after downgrading from Blewett to make room for the veteran in the first place.
Atlanta is quickly learning why fans have been increasingly frustrated with the team's lack of offseason spending. Letting franchise stars walk away and plugging in bargain bin options is no longer working. The Braves' luck in finding short-term solutions has run out, and the team is now paying the price. Kimbrel's demotion and free agency serve as the perfect example of where this team has fallen and why the fan base continues to voice frustration.