The Dodgers won’t be exercising their $9.5MM club option on Joe Kelly’s services for the 2024 season, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford (X link). Kelly will instead collect a $1MM buyout and enter the free agent market.
Previously a Dodger from 2019-21, Kelly made his return to Los Angeles after the White Sox dealt the reliever and Lance Lynn to the Dodgers as part of a five-player swap at the trade deadline. Forearm inflammation sidelined Kelly for over a month, but his limited (10 1/3 innings over 11 games) work with the Dodgers was a success, as he posted a 1.74 ERA. Kelly struck out a whopping 47.5% of batters faced in those 10 1/3 frames, which helped cover up a high 15% walk rate.
For the 2023 season as a whole, Kelly posted a 4.12 ERA over 39 1/3 innings for Chicago and Los Angeles, with strong strikeout (35.7%) and grounder (58%) rates, even if his 10.7% walk rate was nothing special. Kelly’s work with the Dodgers helped get his overall numbers back in line with the improved peripherals he posted with the White Sox, but on the down side, the veteran reliever had another injury-shortened year. Kelly made three different trips to the IL, with his late-season forearm problem coming after earlier IL stints for a groin strain and elbow inflammation.
This injury history might be why L.A. chose to pass on Kelly’s option, even though the 35-year-old has shown that he can still be an effective reliever. Declining the option doesn’t necessarily mean that the Dodgers won’t still look to retain Kelly at a lower salary, though now Los Angeles will be bidding against other teams looking for bullpen help. Kelly’s last trip to free agency earned him a two-year, $17MM deal from the White Sox, and there’s a decent chance the right-hander can still land another multi-year contract, even if two injury-marred years won’t help his case.
Previous reports have indicated that the Dodgers also declined club options on Lynn and Alex Reyes, and it doesn’t seem like Daniel Hudson or Blake Treinen will have their club options exercised given their injury woes. Max Muncy was the only other Dodger with a club option for 2024, but L.A. made a longer commitment by signing the infielder to an extension.
See ya 4-Eyes. See ya Frog Eyes. Why can’t you stay healthy dude? You have quite the attitude for always being hurt. Tough guy. Maybe a minor league deal with the Rockies then?? Boy, that would be humiliating.
Yeah what a loser. All he has is a 12-year Major League career, 2 World Series rings and $47 million in earnings. How humiliating.
For sure ellisburks. never read, nor heard via media anything negitavely regarding his personality, in fact? Opposite that he was a plus and cheery guy with teams.
my issue with Kelly was always how a guy, who regularly hit 100mph on the radar, had such a nasty curve AND slider was never good for more than short periods during such a long career and injury complaint as een above is out. he had none until much later. His issues.. To me were over thinking and just couldn’r, or wouldn’t trust his catchers enough to call his game.
“How dare you get injured”. — overanxious John Silver.
“How dare you sir—-“ Overacting Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan
How many years have you played in MLB? The haters talk loud-but really having nothing important to say.
Same as all of us and of course MLB the Show doesn’t count lmao
You still mad? You should let it go
Joe Kelly stole isob’s binkie
Speaking of tough guys. Your name says all I need to know about you. Kelly has made more $$$$ in his career than you could ever imagine. But hey keep calling this dude names and maybe Momma will let you out of her basement one of these days.
Shut up, you goofy fat boy.
Ratio’ed
@ignorant LOL, as someone who follows baseball from Australia, along with a couple of other sports, it’s freaking hilarious to read this outburst about an MLB player..to me, they are all pretty much names on paper, given that I can’t really watch the games, as I’m at work at that time. But you do you, buddy…
The market is going to be flooded with a lot of guys looking for big money and settling for a spring training invite somewhere.
Incoming rebound contract offer from Farhan
Joc, Wood, Stripling, Alexander, Pollock, Kazmir, McGee… definitely a trend here…
Marky Mark, I love ya buddy, but why even comment on 10 innings. It doesn’t mean anything. And yes, I’m fairly certain that they passed on him due to his proclivity for injury. Despite those brilliant, awesome, incredible 10 frames.
Give him a call, Breslow. See what happens.
@ IM Insane – Yes, let’s bring him back to Boston where he belongs! He’ll always be a fan favorite, both for his playoff performance and for the Joe Kelly Fight Club of course!
They passed on him because he’s $9.5 million more that they can throw at Ohtani.
Yup
And then they lose out on two guys!
(Just messing with ya, no one knows what Ohtani is thinking, may not be just about the cash)
Injuries from 2023 are a harbinger for an upcoming TJS.
Fun and cerebral guy. Latter day Bouton. Couldn’t stay healthy or consistent. Still: baseball is much more fun with guys like Joe Kelly. Unless you’re Carlos Correa
Surprised they didn’t re sign him. Like every other bum he comes to the Dodgers, tries harder and is amazing for no reason.
I think they’ll bring him back on a 1-yr $5M or so deal.
Clown
Haha Kelly is a clown, yes
Bring back Fight Club!!!
As a fan I love watching Joe Kelly pitch. Few guys can throw that hard and have one decent off speed pitch. I can see him getting 2/10. Time will tell.
As a fan I love watching Joe Kelly pitch. Few guys can throw that hard and have one decent off speed pitch. I can see him getting 2/10 or better. Time will tell.
Lots of strikeouts, but lots of walks…..I would pass on him.