Dodgers sign Joe Kelly

December 11th, 2023

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly on a one-year contract for $8 million.

Kelly, 35, returns to the Dodgers after making 11 appearances with Los Angeles to finish the 2023 season. The righty went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA (3 ER/10.1 IP) and 19 strikeouts after being acquired on July 28 with right-handed pitcher Lance Lynn from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitchers Jordan Leasure and Nick Nastrini and outfielder Trayce Thompson. He made 31 appearances for the White Sox prior to the trade, allowing 16 runs in 29.0 innings with a 1-5 record and 41 strikeouts.

The two-time World Series Champion has been in the Major Leagues parts of 12 seasons with St. Louis (2012-2014), Boston (2014-2018), Los Angeles (2019-2021, 2023) and Chicago-AL (2022-2023) and he is a combined 53-37 with a 3.95 ERA (354 ER/807.0 IP) and 732 strikeouts. He was originally drafted in the third round of the 2009 First Year Player Draft out of the University of California, Riverside.