Dodgers’ Interest in Joe Kelly Has Fans Frantic About Team’s Shohei Ohtani Pursuit

The Dodgers are looking to bring back a familiar face. 

Los Angeles is “finalizing” an agreement on a contract with relief pitcher Joe Kelly, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Robert Murray of FanSided first reported that the sides were nearing an agreement.

But not all Dodgers fans were excited for the reunion, as news of the potential Kelly signing sent fans into a panic regarding the team's potential pursuit of top free agent Shohei Ohtani, who has been a rumored target of Los Angeles’s for over a year now. 

Surely there was a good reason for this panic? 

Fans instantly jumped to conclusions, imagining that the Dodgers’ signing of Kelly, who wore number 17 during his first stint with the team, rules them out of the Ohtani sweepstakes, given that the two-way superstar wears the same number. One fan had it all figured out, though. 

In this scenario, not only does Kelly cash in on a one-year deal with the Dodgers, but he adds to his riches by selling the jersey number to Ohtani. 

In all seriousness, the Dodgers, who are reportedly still in the mix for the star, could either have Ohtani or Kelly simply wear a different number. A jersey number mix-up won’t stop L.A. from bringing in Ohtani, who won his second American League MVP award this year. 

Fret not, Dodgers fans.