The Cubs are acquiring left hander Antoine Kelly from the Dodgers. Kelly hasn't had a shot at the big leagues yet, but he's constructed several solid seasons in the minor leagues. Kelly posted a 5.63 ERA in Colorado's system last season.
This addition could be taken two separate ways. On the one hand, the Cubs are doing what they need to do to support the pitching woes that manager Craig Counsell has had to deal with on a daily basis. On the other hand, Kelly is a 26 year old farm pitcher that hasn't made it to the show yet, and he's spent time in multiple organizations farms.
You would think that after years of being thrown around from system to system that eventually an organization is going to give him a shot in the big leagues. Will the Cubs finally be that team? They could certainly use the help in the bullpen, and they've shown a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed.
The Cubs are hoping there is still untapped potential in Kelly's arm
Kelly now joins his fourth organization since being drafted. That's not a great sign. Teams don't generally move on from pitchers that they view as immediate contributors, unless there's significant compensation. The Cubs are hoping that despite never making it all the way, Kelly can add value where the Cubs have lost theirs.
The Cubs have been decimated by injuries. Whenever the Cubs have found a bit of stability, it's like the rug has been swept out from beneath them. It's caused the Cubs to go on a season-long wild goose chase that may or may not end with a contending team.
Kelly doesn't need to be a late inning weapon to justify this move. If he can provide a few outs here or there without doing significant damage, he'll already be worth it. The move cost the Cubs very little, and the risk is at a bare minimum.
The Cubs are betting that Kelly's talent will finally outweigh the questions that have followed him throughout the minors. If it does, Chicago may have quietly found another bullpen arm at almost no cost.
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