You never know what you're going to see from Joe Kelly when he's on the mound.
Kelly, the two-time World Series champion (2018 Boston Red Sox, 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers), is the definition of "effectively wild." Some days, he'll drive you up the wall with walks, but he's always had electric stuff, with a triple-digit fastball at 175 pounds of wiry strength.
Though Kelly also got a ring last season, he missed the Dodgers' postseason run with shoulder inflammation. It's a recurring problem for the right-hander, and at age 37, it's questionable whether we'll ever see him take the mound again.
However, as Kelly told Foul Territory host A.J. Pierzynski during an appearance on the popular podcast on Wednesday, he hasn't yet officially hung up his cleats.
"I haven't retired," Kelly said.
Pierzynski then asked him about coming to play for the Dodgers and getting to face San Diego Padres utility player Tyler Austin, who once charged the mound after Kelly plunked him in 2018 in a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
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"People would say it's bad marketing, but I don't give a crap. If I come back healthy, I'm only playing for one team, and that's the Dodgers," Kelly said.
Kelly owns a 3.98 career ERA in 485 appearances, including a 3.72 mark in 161 outings in a Dodgers uniform. The Red Sox converted him from a starter to a reliever in 2016, and he made all but one of his appearances in LA out of the bullpen.
The Dodgers-Padres rivalry has been extra spicy this season, and throwing Kelly back into the mix would only serve to liven things up even more.
But until there's any word about the Dodgers' intentions, Kelly's words don't necessarily mean a reunion is imminent.
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