Unexpected plot twist has Dodgers working out former fan favorite pitcher to help in 2025

Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Dodgers
Seattle Mariners v Los Angeles Dodgers | Brandon Sloter/GettyImages

When free agent reliever Joe Kelly said on the Foul Territory Podcast last month that he would only pitch again if it was for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he may have been foreshadowing what was to come.

Robert Murray of FanSided reported Sunday that the 37-year-old is expected to throw for the Dodgers soon as the club looks for bullpen help any way they can get it. Recent injuries to several of their relievers, including Tanner Scott, Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips, have increased the urgency for the Dodgers to add reinforcements as they gear up for a World Series title defense in 2025.

Kelly is no stranger to Dodger blue, having played five of his 13 Major League seasons in Los Angeles. He has posted a 3.72 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 147 2/3 combined innings over two separate stints with the Dodgers, first from 2019-21 and most recently from 2023-24. He threw only 32 innings (35 games) for Los Angeles in 2024 while dealing with recurring shoulder problems, and a right posterior strain sidelined him for more than two months.

Unexpected plot twist has Dodgers working out former fan favorite pitcher Joey Kelly for potential return to help in 2025

Kelly hasn't pitched this year, so even if the Dodgers did sign him, he would likely still need a ramp-up period in the minor leagues before being able to make any sort of meaningful contribution to the Dodgers. Plus, if something were to come to fruition, it would likely be just one of multiple moves they would need to make ahead of the July 31 trade deadline to solve their bullpen issues.

A potential big league return for Kelly would mark the second midseason veteran reliever signing this year after David Robertson joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a one-year, $6 million deal on July 21. Kelly would likely come at a far more affordable price tag, potentially even on a minor-league deal, making him a low-risk signing for a Dodgers organization that finds itself in constant need of more pitching depth.

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