Craig Kimbrel

Fan & Media Sentiment

The public sentiment around Craig Kimbrel's Mets debut has been brutal, earning an F grade as fans and media struggle to reconcile his nine All-Star selections with his current reality. The narrative has shifted dramatically from celebrating a decorated closer to questioning why a former elite reliever needed a minor league stint before joining his tenth MLB team, with coverage emphasizing career instability rather than his accomplished past. Media outlets are framing Kimbrel as "just another bullpen option" rather than an impact acquisition, a devastating fall for someone who was once among baseball's most dominant closers. The Mets' recent roster churn — including DFA'ing A.J. Minter and shuffling multiple relievers — suggests they're desperately searching for bullpen stability, making Kimbrel's addition feel more like organizational desperation than strategic improvement. The journeyman label has officially stuck, with the baseball world viewing this signing as evidence that teams now see Kimbrel as organizational depth rather than a difference-maker, cementing a narrative of decline that has completely overshadowed his Hall of Fame-caliber resume.