As the Los Angeles Dodgers stare down a shaky bullpen and a looming trade deadline, a familiar face may soon reemerge on the mound. Veteran right-hander Joe Kelly, a fan favorite and two-time World Series champion, is expected to throw for the team in the coming days, according to MLB insider Robert Murray. And if all goes well, the reunion could happen at just the right time.
A Bullpen on the Brink
Los Angeles currently owns the eighth-highest ERA in Major League Baseball — a jarring figure for a team with championship aspirations. The injuries and inconsistencies have mounted. High-profile closer Tanner Scott, who leads the majors with seven blown saves, is now on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Kirby Yates, another offseason acquisition, has watched his dominant splitter fall flat, allowing a .278 average this season — a massive regression from the .114 mark in 2023.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Dodgers are exploring every avenue for bullpen help — especially with the July 31 trade deadline rapidly approaching. While they remain active in trade talks, Kelly presents a rare low-cost, high-upside alternative in a relief market that’s become prohibitively expensive.
“I’m Only Playing for One Team”
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Kelly’s desire to return to Chavez Ravine isn’t in question.
“If I come back healthy, I’m only playing for one team and that’s the Dodgers,” Kelly recently said on the Foul Territory podcast.
That level of loyalty — from a player who’s already worn Dodger blue in two different stints — carries weight. The 37-year-old reliever spent three seasons in Los Angeles from 2019 to 2021 and returned in 2023 after a brief stop with the White Sox. While his 2024 campaign was cut short due to a right shoulder issue and featured a bloated 4.78 ERA in 32 innings, the Dodgers are betting on more than just numbers.
They’re betting on experience.
October Joe
Kelly’s regular-season stats have always come with caveats, but his October résumé is undeniable. He helped lead the Red Sox to a championship in 2018, throwing 11.1 postseason innings with just one earned run allowed. In 2020, he played a key bullpen role during the Dodgers’ title run, posting a 2.45 ERA in limited but impactful duty.
Even in 2023, despite being slowed by injury, Kelly continued flashing elite velocity — his fastball averaged 98.1 mph, ranking in the 98th percentile among active pitchers. His knuckle curve was even more devastating: a .091 batting average against and a 42.4% whiff rate.
Add in his clubhouse presence, postseason pedigree, and unwavering confidence, and the case for a third stint becomes obvious.
Strategic Timing
A healthy Kelly could offer the Dodgers something most deadline targets don’t: affordability and flexibility. As the relief market surges in price — with contending teams overpaying for veteran arms — Kelly gives Los Angeles leverage. They wouldn’t have to part with top prospects or overextend the budget.
It’s a strategy reminiscent of what the Phillies did with David Robertson, re-signing the 40-year-old for a third stint based on fit and familiarity. For the Dodgers, Kelly fits a similar mold — but with even stronger ties to the franchise and fanbase.
And with the NL West lead shrinking (San Diego trails by just four games), every decision moving forward has postseason implications.
What Comes Next?
The Dodgers head to Cincinnati to open a three-game series on July 28 — a critical stretch before the trade deadline storm peaks. A series win could stabilize momentum. But the bigger focus lies off the field: How will L.A. fortify a bullpen that’s cracking under pressure?
Joe Kelly may not be the whole solution. But at this point in the season, a healthy version of the Anaheim native could provide just enough spark — and swagger — to help steady the ship. Whether the radar gun still reads 98 or not, Kelly’s willingness to ride once more for the Dodgers gives the club an option few other contenders can match: a proven October arm who already knows what it takes to win in Los Angeles.