Joe Kelly issues ultimatum in desperate bid to re-sign with Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers fans will always be fond of Joe Kelly for his membership on two World Series winning teams, his viral, suspension-earning mocking of Carlos Correa, general smack-talk against rivals, and his wife's Porsche-earning campaign to give No. 17 to Shohei Ohtani. However, sentiment can only go so far when it comes to a free agent re-signing with a team. Players should actually be good enough to warrant a deal.

Kelly struggled in 2024. He was hurt for much of the season, leaving him to pitch to a 4.78 ERA in just 32 innings out of the Dodgers' bullpen. The bullpen became one of LA's biggest strengths by the end of the year, but Kelly was a non-factor. He was on and off the IL throughout the summer, so his poor performance could've been due to underlying issues, but he felt like a liability in an otherwise solid relief corps.

He became a free agent after the 2024 season and has yet to sign with a team. The Dodgers may have one more spot left open in their bullpen, but their reported target to fill that spot, Tanner Scott, is a massive upgrade from Kelly.

Still, it seems like his sights are set on returning to LA. He told The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast, "If I had to play anywhere else, I wouldn't play," which certainly makes it sound like he'll retire if he doesn't get a new Dodgers contract.

Maybe he should prep for retirement.

Joe Kelly threatens retirement if he doesn't re-sign with Dodgers

Kelly hasn't posted a quality season since 2021, the last of his first stint in LA, but he didn't avoid the IL completely that year either. The last time he pitched more than 50 innings was 2019. His 1 1/2 seasons with the White Sox were also incredibly shaky, but his return to LA at the trade deadline in 2023 (10 1/3 innings, 1.74 ERA) earned him a new contract for 2024.

There's no reason to believe that Kelly has been a negative clubhouse presence when he's been a Dodger, but an ESPN exposé on the White Sox's clubhouse culture implicated Kelly as being part of a clique of veterans who had to be talked into attending Liam Hendriks', their teammate who was coming back after a battle with cancer, return press conference. Not a great look.

There's a nonzero chance the Dodgers re-sign Kelly, but they'll be better off letting him go and upgrading his open spot in the bullpen.