Dodgers Send Left-Handed Reliever Antoine Kelly to Cubs

· Yahoo Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a minor organizational move, sending left-handed pitcher Antoine Kelly to the Chicago Cubs in a trade that could provide Chicago with additional bullpen depth as the season progresses.

Kelly, 26, joined the Dodgers organization on a minor-league contract during the offseason after spending the 2025 campaign in the Colorado Rockies system. While he has yet to reach the major leagues, the hard-throwing southpaw has continued to attract attention because of his ability to generate strikeouts.

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Strikeout Ability Remains Appealing

Kelly's biggest strength has long been his ability to miss bats. During Spring Training with Los Angeles, he impressed evaluators by delivering scoreless results across limited action while piling up strikeouts at an impressive rate.

That swing-and-miss profile has remained evident throughout the regular season. Pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kelly has continued to record strikeouts at a strong clip and has shown the raw stuff that has intrigued organizations throughout his professional career.

However, command remains the primary obstacle standing between Kelly and a major league opportunity.

Control Issues Continue

Despite his ability to overpower hitters, Kelly has struggled to consistently throw strikes. Elevated walk totals have contributed to uneven results in Triple-A and have prevented him from translating his talent into sustained success.

Those command issues were also evident during his time in the Rockies organization, where inconsistent outings limited his effectiveness despite flashes of high-end potential.

For the Cubs, the acquisition represents a relatively low-risk gamble on a pitcher with tools that cannot easily be taught. If the organization can help Kelly improve his control, he could emerge as a viable bullpen option down the road.

Cubs Add Organizational Bullpen Depth

Chicago's relief corps has managed to produce respectable results this season, but injuries have forced the club to continually search for additional pitching depth. Acquiring Kelly gives the Cubs another left-handed arm to evaluate without requiring a major investment.

The return heading to Los Angeles has not yet been reported, though the transaction appears to be more of a depth-oriented move than a headline-grabbing deal.

While Kelly remains a developmental project, the Cubs are betting that his strikeout upside makes him worth a closer look as they continue searching for bullpen reinforcements.

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