Joe Kelly was assured by manager John Farrell that he will be in Boston's starting rotation when the 2016 season begins, the Boston Herald reports.

Kelly was assured by manager John Farrell that he will be in Boston's starting rotation when the 2016 season begins, the Boston Herald reports.

Analysis:

Kelly's finish to the 2015 season -- 8-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last nine starts -- makes him an attractive sleeper entering 2016, but manager John Farrell is no position to be patient. If Kelly gets off to a slow start, Farrell, a manager that's guided Boston to two consecutive last-place finishes, could be forced to relegate Kelly to the bullpen or Triple-A and use one of the team's depth starters.