Dodgers remove struggling Craig Kimbrel from closer role
Manager Dave Roberts wouldn't commit to a specific ninth-inning plan for the playoffs
www.cbssports.comCraig Kimbrel’s latest public stance as of now centers on his post-2024 career moves, including a notable DFA by the Orioles in 2024 and subsequent attempts to revive his career, including a 2025 minor-league deal with the Braves and later roster moves. Overall, there hasn’t been a single, definitive “stance” statement from him in 2026 that supersedes those recent transactions.
Key points to understand contextually:
- 2024: Kimbrel was DFA’d by the Orioles late in the season after a rough stretch, ending his stint there.[1]
- 2025: He returned to the Braves on a minor-league deal, signaling an openness to a fall-back pathway via the organization that originally developed him; he remained in spring training with the Braves and was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett before potential major-league call-ups.[2]
- 2025–2026: Subsequent reports show continued evaluation of his role, including continued discussion about his effectiveness in high-leverage relief and potential bullpen roles, but no sustained commitment to a specific closer position or roster spot has been publicly articulated by Kimbrel in 2026.
If you want, I can pull the latest local news from Buffalo-area outlets or national sources to pinpoint any new quotes or interviews since April 2026, and I can summarize any new developments in a brief timeline. Would you like me to do that and, if possible, provide a short, sourced update with direct quotes?
Note: I can also track any current team affiliations or official statements from Kimbrel or his representatives if you specify you want the most up-to-date stance.