Rangers Sign Craig Kimbrel to Minor League Deal

The Texas Rangers have signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract after his release by the Atlanta Braves, where he pitched a single scoreless inning before departing. Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star with 440 career saves and a 2.59 ERA, adds experience to a Rangers bullpen that ranks seventh in the AL by ERA but has blown 10 of 28 save opportunities this season. His minor league performance this year has been strong, with a 2.00 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 18 innings, though he struggled in his last major league stint with the Orioles. The Rangers, currently fourth in the AL West, hope Kimbrel's presence will strengthen their relief corps. He will begin in the minors, but could be called up if the team needs bullpen support. The signing is considered a low-risk, high-reward move as Texas seeks to stay competitive in a tight division race.