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Joe Kelly To Throw For Dodgers

By Darragh McDonald | July 27, 2025 at 1:00pm CDT

Right-hander Joe Kelly didn’t sign anywhere this offseason, despite expressing a desire to pitch this year. Per Robert Murray of FanSided, Kelly is going to throw for the Dodgers soon to see if that club is willing to give him a deal.

Kelly, 37, pitched for the Dodgers from 2019 to 2021 and then again from the 2023 deadline until the end of 2024. The first stint was more successful than the second one. From 2019 to 2021, Kelly had a 3.59 earned run average over 105 1/3 innings for the Dodgers. He struck out 26.9% of batters faced and got grounders at a 59.9% clip.

In 2023, he only tossed 10 1/3 innings for the Dodgers, spending some time on the injured list due to forearm inflammation. Last year, right shoulder injuries put him on the IL multiple times. He pitched 32 innings with a 4.78 ERA, 24.5% strikeout rate and 47.1% ground ball rate. That shoulder prevented him from pitching in the postseason.

Though he wants to come back this year, it doesn’t appear as though he’s given himself a lot of bargaining leverage. He told Foul Territory last month that “If I come back healthy, I’m only playing for one team, and that’s the Dodgers.”

Since he hasn’t been signed, it doesn’t appear as though the Dodgers have been especially interested, though they may be more open to it now. They have recently placed Tanner Scott, Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips on the IL. Phillips had Tommy John surgery and is done for the year. Kopech had meniscus surgery and is going to be out a while. Scott seems to just have some elbow inflammation but he’s in the early days of his IL stint. Brusdar Graterol still hasn’t pitched this year after undergoing shoulder surgery last year. Blake Treinen just returned from a lengthy IL stint due to forearm tightness.

Those injuries have put the Dodgers in the market for bullpen upgrades ahead of this year’s deadline. Kelly wouldn’t be a sure thing due to his age, recent shoulder troubles and the fact that he hasn’t pitched this year. Even if he signed, he would likely be sent for a ramp-up period in the minors. He wouldn’t solve their bullpen issues and he won’t be the only move they make in that department, but you can never have too much pitching and he wants to play for them. He should be attainable for a low-cost deal, perhaps even a minor league pact.

Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Kelly

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Rangers Interested In High-Leverage Reliever, Right-Handed Bat
View Comments (65)
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65 Comments

  1. sad tormented neglected mariners fan

    2 months ago

    He’s one of the only guys I’ve seen that threw harder as he got older, his cardinals days he would be around 94 and then he started throwing 100 all the time with the dodgers

    Verlander might be another one of those guys

    8
    Reply
    • Gobraves88

      2 months ago

      Kinda like Jim Morris.

      3
      Reply
      • paddyo furnichuh

        2 months ago

        Is that Jack’s brother or Jim Morrison’s dad?

        2
        Reply
    • ohyeadam

      2 months ago

      Kelly was mostly used as a starter in STL.
      It was awesome to watch verlander be his own closer back in the day. Sat mid 90s then 8th inning comes and bam! 100

      4
      Reply
    • Bartolo Cologne

      2 months ago

      And pretty smart for Kelly to basically sit out the entire season to save his arm before signing down the stretch.

      Reply
    • towinagain

      2 months ago

      I’m going to throw for Joe Kelly.

      Reply
    • rocky7

      2 months ago

      You’re kidding right about Verlander….he’s getting lit up like a Roman Candle this year building on the same last year…..who cares what he throws….he’s getting hit, often and hard…..have you and your 4 friends ever watched baseball?

      Reply
      • Gobraves88

        2 months ago

        Did you just disrespect one of the most impressive pitchers in baseball’s history!!! So have you watched baseball?

        3
        Reply
        • paddyo furnichuh

          2 months ago

          @gobrave I assumed you meant Jack Morris and was messing with you for calling him Jim.

          Reply
        • Gobraves88

          2 months ago

          No his name is Jim Morris he was a first round pick and hurt his elbow. Then he became a science teacher/HS baseball coach. Then he learned he could throw 99. There is a great movie about it on Disney+ called The Rookie.

          Reply
        • Gobraves88

          2 months ago

          Also I wasn’t talking about Jack Morris their I was talking about JV sry I realized this is what you were getting at.

          Reply
        • paddyo furnichuh

          1 month ago

          Understood, thanks for clarifying and the info! Will check out The Rookie

          Reply
  2. tim815

    2 months ago

    Is that something like “Eddie Cixotte threw for the White Sox”?

    1
    Reply
  3. Mickey Steverman

    2 months ago

    What a typical thing. A match made in heaven. A weasel little b*tch holding out to sign back up with d*ddy who can buy whoever they want and will be desperate enough to bring back the little whiny four-eyed baby.

    4
    Reply
    • freddiemeetgibby

      2 months ago

      A tale as old as time

      1
      Reply
    • Mustard Tiger

      2 months ago

      How long ago did Joe Kelly **** the girl you wanted to go out with? Let it go, man.

      5
      Reply
    • Another Dodgers Fan

      2 months ago

      I feel so sorry for the team you support. They must really suck for you to be so angry at a successful team.

      5
      Reply
    • Zerbs63

      2 months ago

      Kelly has said multiple times even after last year he would only come back to the Dodgers. He is from SoCal and still lives there. He has made enough money doesn’t need to try and leverage more money or need to be away from home. Loyalty to his family

      6
      Reply
    • Greenwell

      2 months ago

      Time to break out the joe Kelly fight club t shirt. I have an extra one mickey!

      6
      Reply
      • Mickey Steverman

        1 month ago

        The irony of that is that was a year Kelly helped beat the Dodgers

        Reply
    • derail76

      1 month ago

      Manny Machado has entered the chat.

      Reply
  4. Acoss1331

    2 months ago

    Dodgers are ruining baseball and here’s further proof! An unsigned pitcher that will only audition for the Dodgers? The entitlement from this franchise has no limits! /sarcasm

    6
    Reply
    • Longtimecoming

      2 months ago

      Acoss – I get where you are coming from but this is just guy looking for a job for a few months and is being selective about where he wants to go.

      2
      Reply
      • Another Dodgers Fan

        2 months ago

        Broken is the sarcasm, this one.

        -Yoda

        3
        Reply
        • freddiemeetgibby

          1 month ago

          Understand how yoda speaks, you don’t

          Reply
    • fox471 Dave

      2 months ago

      Acoss is it? So a pitcher wants to play for a certain team and you blame the team?

      Reply
  5. highflyballintorightfield

    2 months ago

    Oh god not this again.

    1
    Reply
  6. Bosin Rag

    2 months ago

    Andrew Friedman whispering, through tears, “I wish I knew how to quit you”

    9
    Reply
    • LaFleur

      2 months ago

      What haha if you need pitching you need pitching

      Reply
      • Bosin Rag

        2 months ago

        Not a judgment of Kelly or the Dodgers, just funny how they keep finding each other

        3
        Reply
        • LaFleur

          2 months ago

          Oh I didnt take it that way lol, thought it was funny. Kelly has been good thought his career. Was surprised he didnt get a contract in the offseason. Watched him alot in 2013, he carried the Cardinals into the post season that year

          1
          Reply
        • abcrazy4dodgers

          2 months ago

          It started with Joe Kelley finding Hanley Ramirez’ ribs first, but then they hooked up on a Craigs List random encounters ad

          Reply
        • LaFleur

          2 months ago

          Oh the Craig’s list freak of the week?

          Reply
  7. Longtimecoming

    2 months ago

    If they would learn how to take better care of their toys they wouldn’t always have to keep asking mom to buy them more.

    5
    Reply
  8. Mustard Tiger

    2 months ago

    Joe Kelly made $60 million in his career. I don’t think he’s worried about maxing out his earning potential with the Dodgers. He probably just wants a third World Series ring.

    10
    Reply
  9. DonOsbourne

    2 months ago

    These deadline moves are dominated by Cardinals and former Cardinals.

    3
    Reply
    • LaFleur

      2 months ago

      They definitely have been

      Reply
  10. Bivouac-Sal

    2 months ago

    Please no. Just no.

    1
    Reply
  11. Another Dodgers Fan

    2 months ago

    In related news, The Atlanta Braves sign Jesse Chavez.

    4
    Reply
  12. Viveleempireevil

    2 months ago

    Kelly is a PAB.

    Reply
    • Gwynning

      2 months ago

      Pulmonary Artery Banding? Nurse, 5 cc’s of Propofal for discordant ventriculoarterial connection, stat!

      6
      Reply
    • Another Dodgers Fan

      2 months ago

      Personnel Automation Branch?

      It only feels like he’s a robot. In reality, he’s a robot.

      3
      Reply
  13. SupremeZeus

    2 months ago

    BREAKING NEWS. Joe Kelly throwing a bullpen session and the Dodgers will watch as a courtesy.

    2
    Reply
    • Gwynning

      2 months ago

      Via a Ring camera…

      1
      Reply
      • Another Dodgers Fan

        2 months ago

        That made me laugh out loud.

        1
        Reply
  14. bilko20

    2 months ago

    Where’s Lindy McDaniel when you need him ??

    2
    Reply
  15. Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee

    2 months ago

    Desperate times call for desperate measures….

    2
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      2 months ago

      Man, I hope the times aren’t that desperate.

      1
      Reply
  16. Rsox

    2 months ago

    60 Earned runs over is last 108 innings. Kelly is probably cooked but honestly wouldn’t cost the Dodgers much anyway. Probably won’t be ready til September if they did sign him so he would just be depth

    1
    Reply
  17. THEY LIVE!!!

    2 months ago

    Would it upset the rest of the league if the Dodgers acquired Jose Ramirez for Dalton Rushing, Bobby Miller, and Esteury Ruiz?

    Reply
  18. DigglinDickers

    2 months ago

    Dodgers kryptonite lately is facing pitchers with an ERA over 5.00.

    1
    Reply
  19. Charlesm 2025

    2 months ago

    Breaking news: Joe Kelly signs with the Dodgers and in 2 weeks is on the disabled list because the dodgers don’t know how to manage their pitchers.

    Reply
  20. Dumpster Divin Theo

    2 months ago

    Astro cheater

    Reply
  21. Sparky1000

    1 month ago

    If Kelly allows another extra-inning grand slam to the Dodgers’ opponent in a winner-take-all postseason game, Dodger fans might react even more harshly than they did after the 2019 NLDS.

    Reply
  22. Karensjer

    1 month ago

    This clown needs to retire.

    Reply

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