White Sox signed right-hander Joe Kelly to a two-year deal, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightingale (link to twitter). The signing will become official when Kelly passes his medical. Kelly represents ACES.
The White Sox are a somewhat unexpected fan of Kelly, signing Kendall Graveman to a three-year, $24 million deal before the lockout. They’re also on the hook for $29 million in 2022 for Liam Hendrix as well as Craig Kimbrel. Aaron Bummer also under contract crochet garret can also work out of the bullpen. Scott Merkin of MLB.com notes that Kelly’s signing “may indicate a close deal with Kimbrel, but the White Sox aren’t just giving Kimbrel away.”
Kelly, 33, is generally regarded as one of the toughest pitchers in the game, although every year more pitchers can average 98 mph like him. In his three years with the Dodgers, Kelly has increased his strikeout rate to hit 27.5% in 44 innings in 2021. In recent years, his control has generally fallen to an acceptable free pass range of 8% of batters. Kelly also posted a strong 58.9% last year, helping him hit only three home runs in a season.
Kelly played a pivotal role with the Red Sox in the 2018 postseason, providing one earned run in 11 1/3 frames. Kelly switched sides after helping the Red Sox beat the Dodgers in the World Series as Los Angeles signed him to a three-year, $25 million contract with a club option for 2022.
Kelly gave the Dodgers an underwhelming 2019 season. He memorably received a five-game suspension in the shortened 2020 season and also spent time on the bench with a sore shoulder before helping his club win the World Series again, though not with the impact he had in Boston. Kelly quietly underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season, leading to her season debut on May 7 at 21st. Kelly went for COVID-IL on August 21st and later saw his season come to an end when he came out of NLCS Game 5 with biceps tight.
Faced with a $12 million club option or a $4 million buyout, the Dodgers opted for a buyout. Although Kelly offered a mutual interest in a Dodgers reunion last month, he will instead join the White Sox bullpen. Kelly told 570 LA Sports at the time that he would “definitely be ready for the start of the season” following the NLCS bicep injury. The White Sox, who were widely expected to trade Kimbrel, have so far only added a couple of right-handed pitchers to their bullpen. Around the same time tonight, the White Sox also fortified their infield by signing Josh Harrison.