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Texas Rangers: Keone Kela most valuable on the roster and most valuable reliever on the trade market

By Travis Koch

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 22: Keone Kela #50 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 22, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 22: Keone Kela #50 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 22, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 27: Keone Kela #50 of the Texas Rangers delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 27, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Keone Kela is top-tier in arm talent

Surely, most of you have seen Kela pitch. If you haven’t, you should. He possesses the typical closer fastball, ranging from 95-98 mph. He also possesses the coveted elite secondary pitch that historically promotes closers from good to great. I’m referring to his wipeout curveball.

30 of Kela’s 39 strikeouts have come via the curveball in 2018. He has brilliant command of the pitch as evidenced by his willingness to throw it at any point in the count. He can spin the hook with the best of them and he can spot the hook with the best of them.

It is safe to say he has mastered the fastball/curveball combination. Just as Mariano Rivera had his cutter and Trevor Hoffman his changeup, Kela has his curveball. It is risky to mention Kela in the same sentence as the all-time saves leaders, but his stuff is at least slightly deserving of it.

Certainly, Kela deserves to be recognized as one of the top relievers in the game. In half a season, he’s transitioned from experimental closer to elite closer. He’s been so dominant that teams are beginning to take notice MLB wide.

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