The Los Angeles Dodgers are waiting to make major roster moves until free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki chooses his team. The Dodgers are in contention for Sasaki alongside the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. Should Sasaki join the Dodgers, they will focus on fine-tuning their roster for a World Series run. Joe Kelly, a fan favorite who has expressed his desire to return to the Dodgers, could be a key addition if he's healthy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are adopting a wait-and-see approach regarding significant roster moves this offseason, with their strategy hinging on the decision of highly sought-after free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki . Sasaki, a 23-year-old with immense potential, is faced with a pivotal choice between the Dodgers , the San Diego Padres, and the Toronto Blue Jays. His decision, which must be made before January 23rd, will dramatically impact the Dodgers ' plans. Should Sasaki choose to pitch for L.A.
, the Dodgers will likely focus on fine-tuning their roster to create a championship-caliber team. If Sasaki opts for another franchise, the Dodgers might pursue a major splash signing to solidify their position. One player Dodgers fans would enthusiastically welcome back is right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly. Kelly, 36, has enjoyed two stints with the Dodgers — first from 2019 to 2021, and then again from 2023 to 2024. During his initial tenure with the Dodgers, Kelly became a fan favorite due to his fiery on-field persona. Notably, he engaged in a heated verbal exchange with then-Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, culminating in Kelly intentionally throwing a pitch behind Alex Bregman and striking out Correa to end the inning. Kelly's theatrics, including a defiant pout towards Correa as he returned to the dugout, further solidified his cult-like status among Dodgers fans. Upon his return to the Dodgers via trade at the 2023 deadline, Kelly was greeted with open arms. He further endeared himself to the fans by giving up his No. 17 jersey to Shohei Ohtani the previous offseason. Kelly is currently a free agent and recently expressed his desire to return to the Dodgers for the upcoming season, but only under those specific circumstances. At a fan event, Kelly stated during an interview with Dodgers Beat, 'Oh yeah, of course,' when asked if he wanted to stay in L.A. 'I would blame it on my shoulder if I had to play anywhere else so I wouldn't play.' This statement strongly implied a potential retirement if the Dodgers didn't want to bring him back, a sentiment he reinforced later. 'I am content all around. We have a good relationship. Like I said, once I am healthy, it's kinda like Clayton (Kershaw's) deal — there is only one spot we will come back to,' Kelly said. 'It's either that or, you know, if my body doesn't heal as well as it wants to, then you never know. So we'll see.' Kelly's 2024 season was plagued by shoulder injuries, limiting him to just 35 appearances. He endured a right shoulder strain in May, which ultimately landed him on the 60-day injured list. Kelly missed a total of 61 games before returning in the second half of the season. He then sustained another shoulder injury, this time with inflammation, forcing him to miss another 16 games. Despite these setbacks, Kelly managed to pitch four times in the final two weeks of the regular season before tweaking his shoulder again before the NLDS. He didn't get to pitch at all in the postseason. Over his 13-season career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox, Kelly has thrown 839 innings, boasting a 3.98 ERA. He has earned two World Series championships, both with the Dodgers.
MLB Dodgers Roki Sasaki Free Agency Joe Kelly World Series Roster Moves
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