9-time All-Star Kimbrel joins Astros' bullpen

BALTIMORE -- Nine-time All-Star reliever Craig Kimbrel is back in the bigs after signing a deal with the Astros on Friday. In other moves, the club reinstated Lance McCullers Jr. from the 15-day injured list, placed lefty Bennett Sousa (left elbow inflammation) on the 15-day IL and optioned right-hander Logan VanWey to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Kimbrel joins a club that entered Friday with a two-game AL West lead over the Mariners despite winning 10 of their last 26.

“It’s a great opportunity to go out there and pitch in some meaningful ballgames,” said the 37-year-old right-hander before Friday’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards. “That’s why I’m still pitching. I want to pitch in some games that mean something, and I’m glad I’m here to do that.”

This is the second Major League stint this season for Kimbrel, who pitched a scoreless inning for the Braves on June 6 before being released by the club.

He then inked a Minor League deal with the Rangers and appeared in 24 games for Triple-A Round Rock, where he compiled a 3.86 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 21 innings.

“We liked how he’s striking out guys in Triple-A, we liked the way he’s spinning the ball,” said Astros manager Joe Espada.

Despite those strikeout numbers, Kimbrel indicated the Rangers granted his release to facilitate the move.

“They were very honest with me, that they didn’t see me in their plan, and that if there were any other suitors out there that they would be open to giving me my release,” Kimbrel said. “And that’s how this worked out.”

Kimbrel arrives at a Houston bullpen that has been going shorthanded in high-leverage spots since closer Josh Hader (left shoulder) was placed on the IL on Aug. 12, and isn’t expected to be available again until the postseason.

Espada did not specify whether Kimbrel would be asked to close games, but did indicate he plans to use him in more meaningful situations.

“He knows, and my conversation with him was, ‘Be ready to go at any time,'” Espada said. “We are going to talk to him through some spots in the lineup that we know he fits very well.”

Kimbrel is one of the most decorated relievers in Major League history, winning four Reliever of the Year Awards and the Rookie of the Year Award in 2011 when he burst onto the scene with the Braves. He was also the closer of the Red Sox's 2018 World Series team.

Overall, Kimbrel has 440 career saves (the fifth-most in MLB history), a 2.59 ERA and 1,266 strikeouts in 810 2/3 career innings.

“When we acquired him, I actually went and looked at his stats,” Espada said. “And you forget how many games this guy has saved and how good he’s been, and how many competitive teams he’s pitched for, and meaningful outs in big innings. So I’m excited to have him.”