Predicting where each Phillies free agent will sign in 2024

Craig Kimbrel

The Phillies signed Craig Kimbrel to try and add a trustworthy late-game arm to a bullpen that really needed it. Kimbrel was coming off a decent year with the Dodgers but didn't even crack their postseason roster. That should have been a red flag for Dave Dombrowski, in hindsight.

Kimbrel went on to pitch well for most of this season for Philadelphia, but he played a massive role in the team going home early. Kimbrel blew not one but two games in Arizona that helped the Diamondbacks even the series. Yes, the Phillies should have done more offensively that entire series, but Kimbrel very clearly imploded on the big stage.

Kimbrel's history of postseason failures, highlighted by his 2023 implosion, almost certainly means Philadelphia won't be bringing him back. While the Phillies presumably won't want a reunion, Kimbrel pitched well enough in the regular season to pique the interest of some contenders out there and pitched poorly enough in the postseason to knock his price down.

A team in search of cheap late-game bullpen help is the Baltimore Orioles, who are without Félix Bautista for likely the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tomy John surgery. Baltimore does have Yennier Cano to fill in as the team's closer, but Kimbrel can be a veteran late-game arm for Brandon Hyde to turn to. At least for the regular season.

Prediction: Orioles - One year, $8.5 million