The Dodgers’ expensive offseason spending spree likely means they’re done adding free agents – except maybe Clayton Kershaw. That’s opening the door for some familiar faces to land with new teams in 2024.
Relief pitcher Joe Kelly could be heading across town to the Angels, according to Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller. It’d be an interesting landing spot for the 36-year-old reliever who’s become a fan favorite during his time in Dodger blue.
Kelly’s got an interesting track record in LA. He’s been with the Dodgers for five seasons, including their 2020 World Series run. Even after a brief stint with the White Sox in 2022, he found his way back to Chavez Ravine last year. His connection to the team runs deep – so deep that Shohei Ohtani recently gifted Kelly’s wife a car after signing his record deal with the Dodgers.
What really endeared Kelly to Dodgers fans was his 2020 confrontation with Carlos Correa. Even though Kelly wasn’t on the 2017 team that lost to the sign-stealing Astros in the World Series, he took it personally. That moment cemented his status as a fan favorite.
“Though he’s an oft-injured wild card who has been worth wins below replacement in each of the past three seasons, Kelly does have stretches where he is just unhittable, tallying 13 holds in each of 2023 and 2024,” Miller wrote. “Could be a solid seventh or eighth inning option for a bullpen that still needs work.”
Kelly’s posted a 3.72 ERA across 161 appearances for the Dodgers. Spotrac projects he’ll land a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency – a number that seems realistic given his age and recent performance.
