Orioles designate Kimbrel for assignment

The Baltimore Orioles designated right-hander Craig Kimbrel for assignment Wednesday, the team announced.

The 36-year-old posted a 5.33 ERA with 23 saves in 52 1/3 innings after the Orioles signed him to a one-year, $12-million contract in December.

"He's a Hall of Famer to me," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said, according to MLB.com's Jake Rill.

"And so to have that conversation about it, about, 'Is this the time?' That’s never easy. Craig's done some amazing things in his career. … I have a ton, a ton of respect for that."

Kimbrel allowed six earned runs in 2/3 of an inning on Tuesday during a 10-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

The nine-time All-Star was solid before the All-Star break, authoring a 2.80 ERA with a 13.5 K/9 in 39 appearances. But he's since struggled to a 10.59 ERA and 2.17 WHIP in 18 appearances.

Hyde called Kimbrel "an amazing teammate and class act" for continuing to help out teammates even though he was struggling, according to MASN's Steve Melewski.

Seranthony Domínguez, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies before the trade deadline, assumed the closer's role in Baltimore after Kimbrel failed to keep hold of it.

The Orioles' bullpen, a strength in past seasons, ranks 12th in FIP and 21st in ERA.

Baltimore recalled right-hander Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move.