Pitcher Joe Kelly (37), who became a free agent after his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, talked about the possibility of retirement.메이저놀이터

According to the Dodgers Nation, which deals with Dodgers news on the 21st (Korea Standard Time), Kelly recently participated in an event and asked about the future, implying that the Dodgers are the only team to consider returning.

When asked if he wanted to stay in LA, he said, "Of course," and responded negatively, "If I have to play elsewhere, I'll blame it on my shoulder."

He continued, "I am satisfied in every way. I have a good relationship with the Dodgers. As I said, if I get healthy, I will sign a contract like Clayton Kershaw. There is only one place to come back," stressing his intention to sign a contract with the Dodgers.

Dodgers Way also reported on the 12th that "Kelly announced an ultimatum in an effort to renew his contract with the Dodgers." Kelly said in a Dodgers podcast, "I have no intention of playing for another team."

Kelly, who joined the St. Louis Cardinals, joined the Dodgers as a free agent in 2018 after playing for the Boston Red Sox.

He transferred to the Chicago White Sox as an FA in 2022 and returned to the Dodgers through a trade in 2023.

Kelly played as a bullpen pitcher for five seasons for the Dodgers. He acquired the World Series title ring in 2020. His career record for the Dodgers is 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA in 161 games.

Kelly, a right-handed fireballer boasting a maximum speed of 102.2 mph (about 164.5 kph) in his prime, proved himself in good shape last season by spraying a maximum speed of 98 mph.

The problem is injury. Kelly, who gained attention by giving up No. 17 to Shohei Ohtani who joined the team ahead of the 2024 season, played only 35 games last season due to his shoulder injury. In May, he was placed on the 60-day injured list due to a sprained right shoulder, and missed 16 more games due to recurrence of shoulder inflammation at the end of the season. Ahead of the National League Division Series, he injured his shoulder again and blew the entire postseason, and did not receive the World Series title ring. If the scope is not limited to last season, he has been listed as injured 10 times over the past five seasons, including elbow, biceps, groin and hamstring.