Breaking: Mets Promote Jonah Tong, DFA 9-Time All-Star

The New York Mets have shuffled their pitching staff with two notable moves on Friday. They've called up top pitching prospect Jonah Tong from the minors. But in return, nine-time All-Star and four-time league saves leader Craig Kimbrel has been designated for assignment (DFA'd).

Craig Krimbrel has been designated for assignment to make room for Jonah Tong pic.twitter.com/oXSpSHf2cH
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 22, 2026

Kimbrel was the NL saves leader for four straight years in the previous decade, averaging over 45 saves a season for that stretch. He sits fifth on baseball all-time saves leaderboard, with 440.

But in his 15 innings with the Mets this season, the 38-year-old posted a 6.00 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP while batters hit .286 off him with an .885 OPS.

As for Tong, he came into 2026 as the Mets' top-ranked pitching prospect, #2 overall on their list.

He's spent the season at AAA Syracuse, where he hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire, with a 5.68 ERA. However, he has been striking out 13 batters per nine innings. In his brief taste of the majors last season, Tong got rocked pretty good, posting a 7.71 ERA through five starts.

But his minor league pedigree is, overall, excellent. He has a 2.96 ERA through four years on the farm, with 14.6 K/9.