Report: Dodgers, Mets, White Sox, Red Sox pursuing Kelly

Joe Kelly's excellent postseason with the Boston Red Sox may have led to some league-wide interest in his services.

While the Red Sox are hopeful to retain Kelly, the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Chicago White Sox have joined Boston as the most aggressive teams pursuing the right-handed reliever, sources told WEEI's Rob Bradford.

Los Angeles, a team that saw Kelly up close during this year's World Series, is reportedly making the biggest push for him, according to Bradford.

The Dodgers and Mets could make use of Kelly as a late-inning option ahead of All-Star closers, and the White Sox could potentially offer him the ninth-inning job. However, all three teams may face stiff competition to pry him away from the Red Sox, as Kelly's made no secret of his desire to remain in Boston long term.

"I don't even feel like a free agent because I still feel like I'm part of the Boston Red Sox," Kelly told the "Jim Rome Show" last month, according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. "I still feel like that's where I'm gonna be for the rest of my career. When people bring up free agency, I'm like, 'Oh crap, I am a free agent.' I happened to pitch well in the postseason and now teams are gonna want me to play for their team."

In 2018, the 30-year-old allowed only four home runs during his 73 regular-season appearances for the 108-win Red Sox, though his ERA (4.39) and WHIP (1.36) spiked significantly from 2017.

But it was during the playoffs when Kelly boosted his free-agent stock. He allowed just one earned run and didn't walk a batter in 11 1/3 postseason innings, striking out 13.

The Red Sox have been connected to other free-agent relievers, including David Robertson and Adam Ottavino.