Astros sign Craig Kimbrel to major-league contract to bolster bullpen

The Houston Astros have signed veteran closer Craig Kimbrel to a major league contract and added him to the active roster, a move aimed at shoring up a bullpen stretched by Josh Hader’s injury as the team presses toward a playoff berth. The acquisition marks Kimbrel’s ninth major league team and positions a storied late-inning weapon in a bullpen that has struggled at times since the All-Star break.

Kimbrel, 37, arrives in Houston after a season in which his big-league role was unsettled. He appeared in a single game for the Atlanta Braves this season before being released, then spent two months in the minors with the Texas Rangers organization. His minor league numbers have been solid overall, including a high strikeout rate, but his raw stuff has not been as dominant as in his peak years. In Triple-A, his fastball velocity has hovered around the low 90s, with a broader picture showing a pitcher who can still miss bats but who has faced control and consistency questions at the highest level this year.

The move comes as Houston seeks to stabilize late-inning situations without Hader, who is out for the remainder of the regular season with a shoulder issue. Houston has been...