Rays to sign former Mets veteran reliever to MLB contract

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Rays to sign former Mets veteran reliever to MLB contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Rays are currently sitting in first place in the American League East, 3.5 games up on the New York Yankees at a 34-17 record.

It's one of the best records in baseball, and the Rays are very much playoff contenders this season. But to become true World Series contenders, the Rays could use some more help, especially in the bullpen.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Rays are adding such a player, as they're set to sign a former New York Mets veteran reliever to a Major League contract. That veteran is nine-time All-Star Craig Kimbrel.

Rays to sign Craig Kimbrel to MLB deal​

"Rays in agreement with reliever Craig Kimbrel on major-league deal, source tells @TheAthletic," Rosenthal reports. "Became free agent when he refused minor-league assignment with Mets."

Kimbrel was on the Mets for a brief period of time this season, posting a 6.00 ERA in 14 games of work. He went 15 innings with 15 strikeouts, six walks, three homers allowed, and a 67 ERA+.

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It wasn't a great stint for Kimbrel, which led to him being released by the Mets. But, instead of returning to the Mets organization in a minor league role, he found a home with the Rays on the big league roster.

Kimbrel, the nine-time All-Star who has a 2.65 ERA in his 17-year career, will join Bryan Baker, Ian Setmour, Garrett Cleavinger, and others in the Tampa Bay bullpen.

This is an interesting signing for the Rays, as adding this veteran reliever could wind up being a nice depth addition for the bullpen at a very cheap cost of a free-agent deal.

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