Former Dodgers RP Joe Kelly Reportedly Agrees to 2-Year Contract with White Sox

Former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Joe Kelly has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. 

Nightengale added that the deal will be finalized once Kelly passes his physical. 

Kelly spent the last three seasons in Los Angeles, and he had hoped to remain with the Dodgers for the 2022 season, saying during a radio appearance on 570 LA Sports last month that he "obviously" wanted to return and that the feeling was mutual. 

However, it's unclear if the Dodgers made him an offer.

The 33-year-old posted a 2.86 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 44 innings across 48 games in 2021. He was one of L.A.'s better relievers, and that will likely be the case in Chicago.

The White Sox bullpen looks formidable on paper, even with Michael Kopech set to enter the starting rotation. Garrett Crochet and Liam Hendriks were bright spots for Chicago's bullpen last season, and adding Kelly gives the franchise another proven arm.

Furthermore, Chicago signed Kendall Graveman—who posted a dominant 1.77 ERA last year with the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros—to a three-year, $24 million deal before the lockout and have Hendriks and Craig Kimbrel locked up for a combined $29.3 million in 2022.

The White Sox are coming off of an impressive 2021 season, finishing first in the American League Central with a 93-69 record. Before that, they hadn't finished first in their division since the 2008 season.

Chicago will be hoping that a revamped bullpen can help them advance past the divisional round for the fist time since 2005, when it won the World Series.