Shawn Kelley

39-Year-Old PitcherP

Free Agent

2024 Stats

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Shawn Kelley in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man No

Height 6'2"

Weight 229

DOB 4/26/1984

Born Louisville, KY

College Austin Peay

Drafted 13th Rd 2007 SEA

Option declined by Rangers

PFree Agent

October 31, 2019

Kelley's club option for 2020 was declined by the Rangers on Thursday, making him a free agent, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
The 35-year-old previously said he would retire if the team declined his option for next season after posting a 4.94 ERA with a 43:11 K:BB over 47.1 innings pitched in 2019. If Kelley does call it a career, he'll finish with a 3.80 ERA and 521 strikeouts over 11 seasons.

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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Shawn Kelley See More

Mound Musings: Checking in on the Bullpens – American League

August 15, 2019

Brad Johnson examines bullpen assignments in the AL to see how they stack up for a postseason push, including in Detroit, where the jury is still out regarding Joe Jimenez’ potential for long-term success.

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August 11, 2019

Erik Siegrist checks out a thin AL waiver wire in the dog days of August and can't deny the impact Mike Tauchman has had for the injury-plagued Yankees.

Mound Musings: Checking in on the Bullpens – National League

August 8, 2019

Brad Johnson dives into all of the changes that have been made in NL bullpens, including in Arizona where Archie Bradley takes on the closer role for now.

AL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

August 4, 2019

Erik Siegrist looks over a post-deadline free agent pool that features a few very big fish, including newest Houston ace Zack Greinke.

Mound Musings: Examining Trade Deadline Pitching Repercussions

August 1, 2019

Brad Johnson breaks down the recent pitching trades to figure out how players will be impacted by their moves, starting with Marcus Stroman who heads to the Mets from Toronto.

Latest Fantasy Rumors

To retire if option declined?

PTexas Rangers

September 10, 2019

Kelley said he will retire if the Rangers don't pick up his $2.5 million team option after the season, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

ANALYSIS
The right-hander said he'll only play with Texas in 2020 because he likes this club and doesn't want to start over somewhere else. Kelley has a 4.07 ERA and 11 saves but also an unsightly 1.93 HR/9 this year. Jose Leclerc is due to return next year, and Emmanuel Clase has emerged at the back end for the Rangers, so Kelley's closing days may be over. Kelley, who turns 36 on April 26, should update the baseball world on his future after the Rangers play out the string in 2019.

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

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Kelley unexpectedly spent much of 2019 in a closer role for the Rangers, setting a career high with 11 saves in 15 chances. The opportunity arose as a result of Jose Leclerc's early-season struggles, though Leclerc eventually reclaimed the role after Kelley landed on the injured list with a biceps injury in late July. While Kelley finished the season with a mediocre 4.94 ERA, he was largely effective prior to the injury, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 33.0 innings. The right-hander is no longer much of a strikeout pitcher (as evidenced by his 21.0 K% last season), but he has demonstrated excellent command in the latter stages of his career, notching a 5.6 BB% over the previous two campaigns. Kelley will turn 36 in April and may decide to retire after Texas declined his option for 2020. If he does elect to keep pitching, he's unlikely to close and thus won't warrant consideration in fantasy leagues.

Kelley rebounded from a terrible 2017 season to post a 2.94 ERA in 49 innings for Washington and Oakland. His peripherals suggest he overachieved somewhat, as he benefited from a .215 BABIP and an 82.4% strand rate, but even an ERA in line with his 3.71 FIP would have made him a competent middle reliever. He didn't record a single save for the first time in three seasons, and his time as a truly dominant reliever appears to be behind him, but he remained a capable late-inning option, striking out 26.3% of batters while walking just 5.8%. An elbow injury cost him two weeks early in the season and an apparent attitude issue led to him being DFA'd and shipped to Oakland for pennies in early August, but his track record is strong enough that he should find a role in a bullpen somewhere this season. He'll give his team good innings but is unlikely to have much fantasy value unless given unexpected save chances.

Kelley endured a disastrous 2017 season, putting up a 7.27 ERA in 26 innings in a season derailed by three trips to the disabled list. His 8.62 FIP suggests his ERA could have been even worse, as he benefited from a lucky .236 BABIP, and his -1.2 fWAR ranked last among all pitchers. It was a tremendously disappointing season for a player many expected would be the Nationals' closer last season. The poor performance can likely be attributed in large part to the injuries -- he had a 2.64 ERA and 35.7 percent strikeout rate in 2016 -- but Kelley is now 33 years old and he has a long history of health issues. Kelley has little appeal in shallower leagues, but in deeper leagues, he could be worth a late-round gamble, as he could work his way near the top of the closer depth chart if his performance rebounds.

The 32-year-old right-hander is coming off the best season of his career in 2016, as he posted a career-best 12.4 K/9 and even saw a handful of save chances prior to the Nationals acquisition of Mark Melancon. Kelley didn't lean on his killer slider quite as hard last season, using it just 43.7 percent of the time (his lowest mark since 2011), but throwing more 92 mph fastballs resulted in a spike in his HR/9 rate, so that might not be a trend that continues into 2017. With Melancon signing with the Giants this offseason, Kelley could head into the season with the closer job, but the club's World Series aspirations will probably push them to strengthen the back end of their bullpen, either before Opening Day or at the trade deadline. Even if he eventually returns to a setup role though, Kelley's plus strikeout rate and high-leverage usage should still provide value to owners in deeper formats.

Kelley was dealt to the Padres last offseason and got off to a rocky start, allowing six earned runs over his first 5.1 innings before landing on the disabled list with a calf injury. He settled down after being activated from the disabled list and became a reliable arm out of the bullpen the rest of the way including a stretch in which he allowed just 19 baserunners across 19.1 innings in the second half and notched a 0.93 ERA in that span. For the season, his peripherals were once again excellent (11.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9), and his biggest skill gains were the improved walk rate and a career-high 42.7% groundball rate. Signed by the Nationals as a free agent in December, Kelley will take on a late-inning role in Washington, though it remains to be seen if he will ever be given a full-time opportunity to close out games despite having three consecutive seasons with a strikeout rate of at least 30.0%.

Kelley's peripherals suggest that he was the victim of poor luck last season, as his xFIP (3.10) was nearly a run-and-a-half below his 4.53 ERA. For the second straight season, Kelley struck out at least 30.0% of the batters that he faced, but the aforementioned bad luck came in the form of a 67.8% LOB% (career 75.2%). Kelley operates with a fastball-slider combo, while he used the latter offering a career-high 57.7% clip last season, which may lead to some wear and tear on his elbow if the increased usage pattern continues. Traded to the Padres in December, Kelley should benefit from the pitcher-friendly confines of his new home park while working in a late-inning role for San Diego.

Kelley was a strikeout machine out of the Yankees' bullpen in 2013, punching out 71 in just 53.1 innings. Kelley's power stuff can go a long way in the opposite direction when batters make contact, as the eight homers he gave up bloated his ERA to 4.39. Manager Joe Girardi relied on Kelley to get big strikeouts when he needed them, but Kelley doesn't seem likely to pitch his way into a consistent late-inning role.

Despite a 1.98 spring ERA, Kelley somewhat surprisingly didn't make the team out of camp last year. The reason stemmed from having a glut of right-handed middle relievers and it being his first full season following Tommy John surgery. As a result, Kelley found himself bouncing between Tacoma and Seattle. While in Seattle, though, he turned in quality bullpen work, posting a 9.1 K/9 in 47 appearances. His arm held up fine, and he heads into 2013 likely with increased bullpen work ahead. The Mariners are stocked with hard-throwing, late-inning right-handers, which could make Kelley expendable, but more likely he ends up in middle relief with his low-to-mid-90s fastball and outstanding slider that is equally effective against righties and lefties.

Kelley made his way back to Seattle in September last year after undergoing partial Tommy John surgery in late 2010. He fared well in his limited work, setting him up for a late-inning bullpen job this season. The right-handed Kelley features a mid-90s fastball and an outstanding slider and is equally as tough on righties as he is on lefties. A healthy and productive spring will go a long way in cementing him as a set-up man for Brandon League.

Kelley's a late-inning, right-handed reliever whose equally as tough on lefties as he is on righties. His season last year was cut short because of an elbow injury that eventually required surgery. In his first 17 appearances, he allowed five earned runs with 22 strikeouts and seven walks in 20 innings. Then the elbow acted up, and he allowed six earned runs with a 4:5 K:BB in his last five outings. Kelley, who features a mid-90s fastball and an outstanding slider, hopes to be ready for spring training, though that remains to be seen. If healthy, he'll likely slot into a setup role again.

Kelley dazzled in spring training last year and not only earned a bullpen spot but garnered closer-of-the-future accolades as well. After allowing two earned runs in his first 11 appearances, he was sidelined most of May and June by an oblique injury. He returned in July, and after some initial struggles regained his stride by mid-summer, allowing just four walks in his last 23 appearances (27.1 IP) and stranding nine of 11 inherited runners. He has a mid-90s fastball and a slider that last year was rated by Baseball America as the best in Seattle's minor-league system. Kelley will return to a late-inning role, and if David Aardsma falters, could take over the ninth inning.

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