Craig Kimbrel is one of the best closers in baseball history, with 408 career saves and a 2.38 ERA. He has played for five different teams in his 14-year MLB career, most recently joining the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. But how much does he make as a Phillies reliever? And how does his salary compare to other top pitchers in the league?
Craig Kimbrel’s Contract Details
Craig Kimbrel signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies in December 2022, after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal includes no incentives or options, and is fully guaranteed.
This contract is a significant pay cut for Kimbrel, who earned $16 million in 2022 as part of a three-year, $43 million deal he signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. The Cubs traded him to the Chicago White Sox in July 2021, and the White Sox exercised his $16 million option for 2022. However, the White Sox then traded him to the Dodgers in November 2021, as part of a blockbuster deal that also involved Max Scherzer and Trea Turner.
Kimbrel’s $10 million salary for 2023 ranks him 13th among all MLB relievers, and fourth among Phillies pitchers, behind Zack Wheeler ($26 million), Aaron Nola ($15 million) and Zach Eflin ($11.5 million). He will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season, unless he signs an extension with the Phillies or another team.
Craig Kimbrel’s Salary 2023
Here is a table that shows Craig Kimbrel’s salary per year, month, week, day and hour, based on his $10 million contract with the Phillies for 2023.
Period | Salary |
---|---|
Year | $10,000,000 |
Month | $833,333 |
Week | $192,308 |
Day | $27,397 |
Hour | $1,142 |
Note: These calculations assume that there are 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days and 24 hours in a year. They do not account for taxes, deductions or other factors that may affect Kimbrel’s actual income.
Craig Kimbrel’s Career Earnings
According to Spotrac, Craig Kimbrel has earned a total of $114.3 million in his MLB career, as of the end of the 2022 season. This includes his signing bonus of $1.39 million when he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2008 MLB draft.
Kimbrel made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2010, and quickly established himself as one of the best closers in the game. He won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2011, and led the league in saves for four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014. He also made four All-Star appearances and won two Reliever of the Year awards with the Braves.
In February 2015, Kimbrel signed a four-year, $42 million contract extension with the Braves, which was then the largest ever given to a closer who had not yet become a free agent. However, he was traded to the San Diego Padres before the start of the 2015 season, and spent one year with them before being traded again to the Boston Red Sox in November 2015.
Kimbrel continued his dominance with the Red Sox, leading the AL in saves for two seasons (2017 and 2018) and helping them win the World Series in 2018. He also made three more All-Star appearances and won two more Reliever of the Year awards with the Red Sox.
However, Kimbrel became a free agent after the 2018 season, and remained unsigned until June 2019, when he agreed to a three-year, $43 million deal with the Cubs. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency in his first two seasons with the Cubs, posting a career-worst 6.53 ERA in 2019 and a career-low two saves in 2020.
Kimbrel bounced back in 2021, posting a stellar 0.49 ERA and 23 saves in 39 games with the Cubs before being traded to the White Sox at the trade deadline. He finished the season with a combined 2.26 ERA and 24 saves in 63 games between both Chicago teams.
Kimbrel was then traded twice more in the offseason, first to the Dodgers and then to the Phillies, as he entered his final year of his contract.
Craig Kimbrel’s Career Stats
According to Baseball-Reference, Craig Kimbrel has a career record of 46-37 with a 2.38 ERA and 408 saves in 746 games (725.1 innings) as of the end of the 2022 season. He has also struck out 1,155 batters while walking only 294, for a career strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.93.
Kimbrel ranks ninth all-time in MLB history in saves, behind Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Lee Smith (478), Francisco Rodriguez (437), John Franco (424), Billy Wagner (422), Dennis Eckersley (390) and Joe Nathan (377). He also ranks second all-time in MLB history in saves percentage, behind Rivera (89.1%), with an 88.7% success rate.
Kimbrel has been one of the most dominant relievers in the postseason as well, with a 2.08 ERA and 19 saves in 38 games (43.1 innings). He was a key part of the Red Sox’s championship run in 2018, recording six saves and a 1.96 ERA in nine games (9.1 innings).
Kimbrel has also won several awards and honors in his career, including:
- Eight All-Star selections (2011-2014, 2016-2018, 2021)
- Five Reliever of the Year awards (2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018)
- One NL Rookie of the Year award (2011)
- One World Series ring (2018)
Craig Kimbrel’s Outlook for 2023
Craig Kimbrel will be looking to prove himself as a top closer again in 2023, after taking a pay cut to join the Phillies. He will be the primary ninth-inning option for the Phillies, who are hoping to contend for the NL East title and a playoff spot.
Kimbrel will also be playing for his next contract, as he will be a free agent after the 2023 season. He will be 35 years old by then, but he could still command a lucrative deal if he performs well and stays healthy.
Kimbrel has shown that he can still dominate hitters with his fastball-curveball combination, and he has improved his command and control over the years. He has also adapted to different roles and situations, as he has pitched in both leagues and for multiple teams.
Kimbrel is one of the best closers of his generation, and he will try to add to his legacy in 2023 with the Phillies.
Conclusion
Craig Kimbrel is a veteran reliever who has signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies for 2023. He has earned over $114 million in his career, and he ranks ninth all-time in saves. He has also won several awards and a World Series ring. He will be looking to bounce back from a turbulent 2022 season, and help the Phillies reach the playoffs.
Most Asked Questions and Answers about Craig Kimbrel
Q: How old is Craig Kimbrel? A: Craig Kimbrel is 34 years old as of December 2021. He was born on May 28, 1988 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Q: How tall is Craig Kimbrel? A: Craig Kimbrel is 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall.
Q: How much does Craig Kimbrel weigh? A: Craig Kimbrel weighs 220 pounds (100 kilograms).
Q: What is Craig Kimbrel’s stance? A: Craig Kimbrel is a right-handed pitcher who throws from a three-quarter arm slot. He is known for his signature stance before delivering a pitch, where he bends his torso forward and hangs his right arm down.
Q: Who is Craig Kimbrel’s wife? A: Craig Kimbrel is married to Ashley Holt since December 2012. They have two children together: a daughter named Lydia Joy, who was born with a heart defect and underwent multiple surgeries; and a son named Weston James, who was born in November 2017.
Q: What is Craig Kimbrel’s net worth? A: Craig Kimbrel’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million as of 2021, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This is based on his career earnings, endorsements and lifestyle.
Q: What number does Craig Kimbrel wear? A: Craig Kimbrel wears number 46 as a Phillies pitcher. He has also worn number 46 with the Dodgers, White Sox and Cubs; number 46 with the Red Sox; number 50 with the Padres; and number 46 with the Braves.
Q: What are Craig Kimbrel’s stats? A: Craig Kimbrel has a career record of 46-37 with a 2.38 ERA and 408 saves in 746 games (725.1 innings) as of the end of the 2022 season. He has also struck out 1,155 batters while walking only 294, for a career strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.93.
Q: What are Craig Kimbrel’s awards? A: Craig Kimbrel has won several awards and honors in his career, including:
- Eight All-Star selections (2011-2014, 2016-2018, 2021)
- Five Reliever of the Year awards (2011)