Dodgers Rumors: Joe Kelly’s Contract Option Could be ‘Tempting’ for LA
Joe Kelly and the Dodgers reunited at the Aug. 1 trade deadline this season when the Dodgers acquired the reliever from the Chicago White Sox. Kelly had struggled in Chicago with six blown saves and a 4.97 in 2023 before heading to L.A.
In Los Angeles, Kelly went on a tear in the 11 games he played for the Dodgers. Across 10.1 innings, Kelly held a 1.74 ERA and worked effectively as a middle reliever. As a former member of the 2020 World Series team, Kelly was welcomed back to Dodger Stadium as a fan favorite.
Now, Kelly will enter free agency, unless the Dodgers decide to exercise the team option and keep him on for another season.
Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain spoke with Southern California News Group’s J.P. Hoornstra about what Kelly’s future in L.A. might look like.
“I think the fact that they can just basically exercise the option and then not think about that role again is really tempting,” Hoornstra said. “If you’re the Dodgers, the only thing that mitigates your temptation is the fact that Kelly has pitched in fewer and fewer games every season since 2018. There have been some injuries in there and so you always worry about that. But when you think about what he might be able to command on the open market, he’s still one of the better setup men in baseball when he’s healthy. I think if it fits within their budget, I think they do it.”
(Via Dodgers Nation TV)
The Dodgers have plenty of areas to address after collapsing in the postseason. Starting pitching will likely be the top priority for a team that held a combined 25.07 ERA in the playoffs. However, at a $9.5 million price tag, signing Kelly could be one less thing for L.A. to worry about.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Money is ALWAYS going to be a concern for ANY enterprise. In Baseball, or any professional sport, PITCHING is the #1 necessity, HITTING #2, FIELDING #3, and SPEED #4. To me, ATTITUDE and HEALTH top everything, and one can only hope that players take car of their minds and bodies. It’s Talent vs. Personage. Thus…
…keeping Kelly and wrangling Otani — depending on who the Dodgers have to give up for Otani — would be a good and prosperous move. As a Dodger fan and bleeder for 70+ years, I think and believe in both those men. I’ll hope for those acquisitions, and wish the Dodgers great luck and satisfaction in making the deals for Kelly and Otani. GO BLUE!…
…J. Rickley Dumm
Love Joe, but not at 9.5 million. That’s starting pitcher money and he is far far from that.
Spend that on Ohtani and Snell while clearing out overpaid options. Six out of the top seven earners not counting Mookie and Freddie, adios..
Kelly is a tough minded player that the Dodgers lack.How about signing him to manage!