The Red Sox have officially moved on from Zack Kelly, and that opens the door for the Twins to take a hard look.
Boston released the right-handed reliever on Friday after designating him for assignment and watching him clear waivers. Kelly is working back from an elbow fracture, but he is expected to start throwing soon. For Minnesota, that makes him a free-agent bullpen arm worth pursuing.
Kelly, 32, put up a 3.31 ERA in 16 1/3 innings for the Red Sox this season. He struck out 19.7% of the hitters he faced and walked 9.9%. Boston had already sent him to Triple-A Worcester in May before he went on the injured list in July.
If the Twins were to sign him and eventually add him to the big-league roster, they would control him for at least three more years. Kelly is out of minor-league options, though, which helps explain why his next deal is likely to be a minor-league contract after clearing waivers.
Kelly’s time in Boston has been long enough to build a real track record. He debuted with the Red Sox in 2022 and has made 115 career appearances for the club, logging a 4.04 ERA with 127 strikeouts and 58 walks over 131 1/3 innings.
The stuff is part of the appeal. Kelly works with a four-seamer and sinker that sit around 96 mph, and he also mixes in a low-90s cutter, a low-80s slider and a changeup.
He only recently began throwing the sinker. His changeup used to be his main secondary pitch, but he has leaned more on the cutter and slider lately.
At his best, Kelly draws chases and keeps hard contact to a minimum. The catch is that the market may be wider for him than Minnesota would like, since he could have several options if he has to accept a minor-league deal.
Still, the Twins should at least be in the mix. If they really want him, they could promise him a spot on the major-league roster.
The fact that he cleared waivers, though, shows the league isn’t sold on him as a sure-fire bullpen piece.
Minnesota has bullpen work to do this offseason if it wants to be in the mix next year. Tom Pohlad said he plans to raise payroll, and adding relief help would be one way to put that money to use.
The Twins’ relievers finished 26th in ERA at 4.74 last season. The group improved after Jeff Hoffman, A.J.
Minter and Tommy Nance arrived, but more help is still needed, especially with Minter now a free agent.
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