Texas Rangers: 5 relievers to consider signing on multi-year deals

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TORONTO, ON – AUGUST 8: Joe Kelly #56 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 8, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Joe Kelly

Age 30

ERA vs. AL West Opponents:

Houston Astros: 10.34 (10 appearances)

Oakland Athletics: 1.65 (7 appearances)

Seattle Mariners: 0.89 (6 appearances)

Los Angeles Angels: 2.57 (6 appearances)

Of the five candidates, Joe Kelly brings the most excitement. He is smack dab in the middle of his prime and he’s already made a name for himself in the role that the Rangers would be signing him to. You guessed it, the set up role.

For the Rangers’ sake, they just have to hope Kelly doesn’t desire to become a closer and seek closer money. He’s spent the last few seasons with the Boston Red Sox as the lead-in to Craig Kimbrel. Kelly has only two career saves and they both came earlier this season.

Just imagine opening the new ballpark in 2020 with Jose Leclerc as the Texas Rangers’ closer and Joey Kelly as the set up man. That’s a lethal combo that would have no trouble finishing games for a team that will hopefully be on the rise by that point.

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