Saturday, December 2, 2023
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2023
On Saturday, with winter meetings a day away, the Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Joe Kelly to a one-year deal. He will be a veteran asset in their bullpen. While many Dodger fans want their favorite team to make a big splash this offseason, the Dodgers need good support players to have another opportunity. Andrew Friedman understands the Dodgers must have an elite bullpen.
At 35, Kelly became a Dodger legend when he made the Houston Astros by pitching in. When Carlos Correa complained, Kelly made a priceless pouty face. Despite not being a member of the 2017 Dodgers that the Astros cheated out of the world championship, Kelly was mad about the cheating scandal.
Kelly has an explosive fastball, a curveball, a slider, and a changeup. A former starter with the Saint Louis Cardinals struggled with his control. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he became a prominent reliever. Kelly played a significant role in the 2018 world championship.
From 2019 to 2021, Kelly pitched for the Dodgers. When healthy, Kelly is a super reliever, but keeping him on the field is a challenge. With his slight frame, Kelly puts extreme stress on his valuable arm.
Kelly signed a lucrative contract with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent. With the White Sox, he succeeded when healthy. In July, the White Sox traded Kelly along with Lance Lynn, who had just signed with the Cardinals, to the Dodgers. Despite a trip to the IL, Kelly pitched well with a 1.74 ERA in 11 games.
After the season, the Dodgers turned down a $9 million option on Kelly, but it made total sense for the Dodgers to keep the Southern California native.
