Call it what you want, but Joe Kelly’s baseball career appears to be over.
The longtime Dodgers reliever, who debuted in the majors in 2012, appeared to announce his retirement on Monday — but emphatically stopped short of using that terminology.
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“Retiring is like something my grandmother did. It’s so disrespectful,” Kelly told Rob Bradford on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. “I’m sorry to all you people out there watching this that work a real job, you guys deserve to retire. Athletes don’t, we just stop f–king playing. It’s used for people who served in the military. It’s used for people who work until 65, like they have to. They probably don’t even like their job, but they had to.
Without explicitly calling himself retired, Joe Kelly confirmed his playing days are likely over while appearing on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast. X / @BBisntBoring
Kelly spent five years with the Dodgers across two separate stints, capturing two World Series rings along the way. Getty Images
“So when athletes are done playing, just say congratulations; they’re no longer playing. No more retirement bulls–t.”
Kelly, 37, last appeared in the majors with the Dodgers in 2024 — the same season Los Angeles defeated the Yankees in the World Series.
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While injuries kept him out of the postseason, the always outspoken right-hander nonetheless mocked the Yankees for having rapper Fat Joe perform in The Bronx – and ripped the team for “lazy” fundamentals during the five-game series.
Joe Kelly (left) throws a punch at Tyler Austin during a brawl between the Yankees and Red Sox on April 11, 2018. Maddie Meyer
“We had seen it every single game just let them throw the ball to the infield, they can’t make a play,” Kelly said in comments later refuted by skipper Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman.
“It was a mismatch from the get-go. If we had a playoff re-ranking, they might be ranked the eighth or ninth-best playoff team,” Kelly said after the Fall Classic.
It wasn’t Kelly’s first time having a run-in with the Yankees.
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In April 2018, he was involved in a chaotic, bench-clearing brawl at Fenway Park after plunking then-Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin in retaliation for a late slide.
Kelly throws the ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers play Cincinnati Reds during Game 1 of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The melee resulted in a six-game suspension for Kelly.
Kelly also blasted former Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson as a “douche” in 2022 after the former MVP referred to White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson as “Jackie,” leading to an on-field altercation.
Drama with the Yankees aside, Kelly carved out a reputation as a high-octane, battle-tested reliever.
Kelly mocked the Astros with a pouty face in July 2020, which led to a benches-clearing brawl that landed the right-hander a five-game suspension. Getty Images
He debuted with the Cardinals as a starter in 2012 but transitioned into a bullpen role in 2016 with the Red Sox. After helping Boston win the World Series in 2018, Kelly signed a three-year contract with the Dodgers, contributing to their 2020 championship run.
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He signed a two-year pact with the White Sox in March 2022 but was dealt back to the Dodgers at the trade deadline the following season.
Kelly indicated this past January that he would only return to pitch for Los Angeles — or otherwise walk away from the game.
He teased a workout with the team in August and told Bradford he was “throwing 98 [mph] like it was nothing” at the time, but no deal ever materialized.
“I can throw gas still at 41 [years old],” Kelly said. “But now? Hell no. I ain’t playing.”
If Kelly’s career is indeed over, he retires as a three-time World Series champion and viral pouty face sensation with a 3.98 ERA across 839 innings.