The Athletics released Kelly on Sunday.
Rather than outrighting Kelly to Triple-A Las Vegas after he cleared waivers over the weekend, the Athletics elected to part ways with the 33-year-old righty. Before being dropped from the 40-man roster Monday, Kelly made five appearances out of the Athletics bullpen on the season and surrendered nine earned runs on 12 hits and six walks across five innings.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Cast off 40-man roster
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The Athletics designated Kelly for assignment Monday.
The Athletics made several transactions Monday and needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, resulting in Kelly being DFA'd. Before being sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas, the 34-year-old right-hander struggled mightily in his last major-league appearance May 31, when he allowed six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning against the Yankees. Kelly has spent most of the 2026 season in Triple-A, where he submitted a 3.20 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB across 25.1 innings.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Sent back down
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The Athletics optioned Kelly to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Kelly made one appearance during his most recent stint in the majors and was bludgeoned for six runs while recording only two outs in that outing. He'll try to get back on track at Las Vegas.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Returns to big leagues
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The Athletics recalled Kelly from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
With Luis Severino (shoulder) headed for the injured list, Kelly will return to the majors to provide the big club with some additional bullpen depth. Since being demoted to Triple-A in early April, the 33-year-old righty has posted a 4.91 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 14.2 innings. He'll likely be limited to low-leverage work as long as he's with the A's.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
The Athletics optioned Kelly to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.
Kelly has allowed three runs with a 4:4 K:BB in his first 4.1 innings this season. He'll look to get reset at Las Vegas and earn another chance later this summer.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Works scoreless frame
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Kelly allowed a hit and a walk across a scoreless inning in Monday's Cactus League win over the Angels. He struck out one.
Kelly entered in the eighth inning and allowed the first two batters to reach but worked out of the jam without surrendering a run. The right-hander has made six Cactus League appearances, allowing three runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out seven across 5.2 innings. Coming off a 2025 season in which he posted a 3.18 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 39.2 innings, Kelly projects to make the 2026 Opening Day roster and could factor into high-leverage opportunities in an Athletics bullpen expected to operate with a closer-by-committee approach.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Strong run continues
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Kelly allowed no hits and a walk with no strikeouts over a scoreless inning in Saturday's 4-2 loss against the Royals.
Kelly worked a scoreless seventh inning while issuing just a walk to Mike Yastrzemski. The right-hander has been excellent in September, posting a 1.93 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 11 outings, including seven straight appearances without an earned run -- his longest streak since opening the year with 10 consecutive scoreless frames. Overall, the 33-year-old owns a 2.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 41 appearances and 39.1 innings this season.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Pockets second save
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Kelly recorded his second save of the season in Friday's 4-3 win over the Pirates, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning without striking out a batter.
The right-hander made things interesting, giving up a leadoff double and then escaping a one-out jam with runners on the corners by getting Tommy Pham to ground into a double play. Kelly has two of the A's four saves this week, with Hogan Harris collecting the other two, and the two arms appear to be manager Mark Kotsay's top ninth-inning options as the season draws to a close, depending on matchups. Over 7.1 innings in September, Kelly sports a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Issued one-year suspension
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Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that Kelly has received a one-year suspension for violating the league's gambling policy, Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal reports.
MLB's investigation determined that Kelly bet a total of $99.22 on MLB games during a time he was with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land during the 2021 season. Currently, Kelly is on the Oakland roster and has posted a 2.59 ERA over 28 relief appearances with the big club. He won't appeal the suspension.
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Guardians' Michael Kelly: Returns to majors
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The Guardians recalled Kelly from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Two days after being optioned to Triple-A, Kelly will return to the Guardians following Logan Allen's placement on the injured list with a shoulder injury. Kelly gave up four runs (three earned) across two innings during his last stint with Cleveland.
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Guardians' Michael Kelly: Headed to 15-day IL
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Kelly will be placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with back spasms, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Kelly has made three straight scoreless appearances in a multi-inning relief role for the Guardians, but he'll be sidelined until at least the end of August. James Karinchak is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Columbus to fill the bullpen vacancy in Cleveland.
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Guardians' Michael Kelly: Snags first big-league win
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Kelly (1-0) allowed two hits and struck out two without walking a batter over 1.2 innings to earn the win Monday versus the Pirates.
Xzavion Curry started but wasn't stretched out long enough to qualify for the win in an 11-0 blowout. Kelly's win was his first in the majors over six career appearances. He's tossed 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts with the Guardians this season, though he figures to remain in a low-leverage role for as long as he's in the majors.
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Guardians' Michael Kelly: Optioned to Triple-A
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Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Friday.
Kelly has been up with the Guardians a couple times this season but has yet to make an appearance. He's clearing out to make room for the return of Friday's starter, Cal Quantrill.
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Guardians' Michael Kelly: Recalled to MLB bullpen
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Cleveland recalled Kelly from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Kelly made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year at age 29 and will get another big-league opportunity -- this time with the Guardians -- after delivering a 2.73 ERA and 48:18 K:BB through 29.2 innings this season at Columbus. The right-hander figures to operate in long relief.
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Guardians' Michael Kelly: Sent to Triple-A
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Cleveland optioned Kelly to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Kelly was sent down to Triple-A to make room on the 26-man active roster for Triston McKenzie (shoulder), who was activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday versus the Twins. After being called up from Columbus on Saturday, Kelly didn't get a chance to make his Cleveland debut in the lone game he spent with the big club.
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Phillies' Michael Kelly: Clears waivers
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The Phillies outrighted Kelly to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.
Philadelphia initially optioned Kelly off the 26-man active roster Wednesday, and at some point in the 24 hours that followed, the organization designated him for assignment. With the 29-year-old reliever having gone unclaimed upon being exposed to waivers, he'll stick in the organization and serve as bullpen depth at the Triple-A level.
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Phillies' Michael Kelly: Heads to Triple-A
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The Phillies optioned Kelly to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Nationals.
Kelly struck out one over a perfect inning of relief Sunday and maintains an unblemished ERA through his first two appearances in the majors, but it won't be enough for him to stick around with the big club. He should find himself near the top of the list for a call-up if the Phillies require an additional bullpen arm at any point.
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Phillies' Michael Kelly: Gets first call-up to majors
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The Phillies selected Kelly's contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Kelly joins the Philadelphia bullpen as a replacement for right-hander James Norwood, who was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. The 29-year-old right-hander will head to the majors for the first time in his career after turning in a 5.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB across 18 innings at Lehigh Valley.
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Phillies' Mike Kelly: Signs with Phillies
Rotowire
Kelly signed with the Phillies as a non-roster invitee Tuesday.
Kelly, a 29-year-old righty, has yet to make his major-league debut. He threw 44.2 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land in 2021, cruising to a 2.82 ERA, but a player his age looking good against minor-league hitters isn't something to get too excited about.
