As the 2025 season heads into its final stretch, the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers remain the team to beat. They began the year with +400 odds to secure a repeat title, and with August concluding, those odds have improved to +350, cementing their status as the league’s top contender. However, the Houston Astros are positioning themselves as a formidable obstacle, looking to prevent the Dodgers from easily winning back-to-back championships.

The Astros’ bullpen recently faced a significant setback when closer Josh Hader was sidelined with a left shoulder capsule sprain. With Hader expected to miss at least three weeks, the team has moved to secure a replacement.

According to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Astros are signing veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to fill the void. Although the team has not yet made an official announcement, the Houston Chronicle has also confirmed the news, reporting that Kimbrel is expected to join the Astros in Baltimore for their weekend series against the Orioles.

On the same day when this news broke, Kimbrel—one of the league’s all-time saves leaders—was released from his minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. Interestingly, the right-hander has also spent time with the Dodgers back in 2022. He was traded to Los Angeles from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder A.J. Pollock.

The 37-year-old veteran is widely viewed as a future Hall of Famer who has 440 career saves to his name. This season, the only time Kimbrel appeared in a major league game was with the Atlanta Braves. He threw a scoreless inning on June 6 and was later designated for assignment.

Kimbrel is arguably one of the most decorated relievers in Major League history and boasts an exceptional career. He has earned four Reliever of the Year awards—an honor recognizing the league’s top bullpen arms—and was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2011 after making an immediate impact with the Atlanta Braves.

Craig Kimbrel’s storied career and historic numbers before joining the Astros

Kimbrel’s career across these years can be defined by three words: dominance, records, and longevity. Ever since breaking into the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves, he has quickly established himself as one of the most electric closers.

During his first five seasons with the Braves, he stacked up 186 saves. It happens to be a franchise record that still stands to date. He also notched two Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year honors and nine All-Star selections.

After his stint with the Braves, Kimbrel spent a year with the San Diego Padres. Then, he spent three seasons with the Boston Red Sox. And was in his third year with the Chicago Cubs when he was traded across town to the White Sox in July 2021.

He also represented the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Baltimore Orioles before he returned to Atlanta on a minor-league deal. He has moved quite a lot, but it has never affected his production.

Over 838 relief appearances, Kimbrel has posted a 56-47 record with a 2.59 ERA and 440 saves. Across 810.2 innings pitched, he has struck out an impressive count of 1,266 hitters. He happens to be one of the only three pitchers in MLB history to surpass 1,200 strikeouts without ever starting a game.

What’s your take on Kimbrel’s reported move to the Astros?