The Los Angeles Dodgers saw several of the team’s key relievers from 2023 head to market this fall, but it looks like one of them will come back for 2024. Veteran reliever Joe Kelly is reportedly set to agree to a one-year deal with the Dodgers. Here’s a look at what Kelly brings to the Dodgers, plus a tentative look at the team’s bullpen for 2024.
Related: MLB 2023-24 Offseason Transactions Tracker – Notable trades, signings, more
A Look at Kelly
The Dodgers re-united with Joe Kelly last summer when Los Angeles acquired both him and Lance Lynn in a large deadline deal that saw Trayce Thompson and prospect Nick Nastrini go to Chicago.
Kelly has long been one of the game’s power middle-relievers, thanks to his plus two-seam fastball that can touch triple-digits and two power breaking balls.
The 35-year-old hasn’t leaned on the curveball as much as he did in 2021 when he used it north of 40% of the time. Nonetheless, he still excelled at getting ground balls and weak contact.
Kelly ranked fifth in the Majors in Weak Contact% (10.2) in 2023 among pitchers that faced at least 150 batters. The veteran righty finished behind Nick Sandlin, Grant Anderson, Brent Suter, and Pete Fairbanks.
The one downside to Kelly is that while he does plus stuff, the 35-year-old’s command can be a question mark. Sometimes he’ll miss out, sometimes he’ll miss in.
Nonetheless, it’s hard to find a middle reliever like Joe Kelly. Now, Kelly is set to return to the Dodgers for another run.
Analysis
The Dodgers bullpen was not a weakness last season, as Los Angeles relievers ranked third in the Majors in ERA (3.42), fourth in SIERA (3.70), and tenth in K% (24.9%).
Los Angeles received strong contributions yet again from closer Evan Phillips and set-up Brusdar Graterol, as well as nice seasons from Shelby Miller and Ryan Brasier. Miller was an unheralded signing last winter, while Brasier was a midseason grab that provided excellent results.
However, both Miller and Brasier are free agents. Thus, here’s a look at what the Dodgers bullpen tentatively looks like at this moment in time:
- LHP Caleb Ferguson
- LHP Victor Gonzalez
- LHP Alex Vesia
- RHP J.P. Feyereisen
- RHP Brusdar Graterol
- RHP Joe Kelly
- RHP Evan Phillips
- RHP Blake Treinen
Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and right-hander Yency Almonte are among other options for LA in 2024.
Obviously, a lot can change between now and Opening Day. But at this point, Los Angeles has a mix of left-handed and right-handed options to complement the big three of Phillips, Graterol, and lefty Caleb Ferguson, including Alex Vesia.
Vesia got shelled in the first half of 2023 but found his form in the second. Opposing batters had just a .522 OPS against the lefty in the second half.
The Dodgers bullpen is also poised to deftly replace Miller and Brasier with J.P. Feyerisen and Blake Treinen, two righties who missed all of 2023. Both have a track record of success in the Majors and both can provide depth for a Dodgers team in the hunt to plug other holes at this point.