Dodgers decline options on four players including Joe Kelly

LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers held club options on five veteran pitchers this fall. They will exercise the option on just one, reliever Blake Treinen.

The Dodgers have declined club options on Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Alex Reyes and Daniel Hudson (who is considering retirement after a second consecutive season ended by a knee injury). The Dodgers will pay Lynn and Kelly a $1 million buyout each rather than bring them back at salaries of $18 million and $9.5 million, respectively. Hudson’s option would have paid him $6.5 million in 2024.

Reyes has not pitched since 2021 when he was an All-Star for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers paid the oft-injured Reyes $1 million this season while he rehabbed from labrum surgery in 2022. He underwent a second shoulder surgery in June and will receive a $300,000 buyout.

Treinen did not pitch in 2023 either after undergoing his own shoulder surgery a year ago. The 35-year-old Treinen returned to make three appearances on a minor-league rehab assignment in August but struggled to regain velocity and recover after pitching and was shut down for the season.

Treinen’s option for 2024 was conditional with his salary based on whether he pitched in the majors this past season. Since he didn’t, the Dodgers will bring him back as a low-cost gamble at a $1 million salary.

Kelly and Lynn were acquired in mid-season from the Chicago White Sox. Kelly pitched well for the Dodgers with 19 strikeouts and only three hits allowed in 10 ⅓ innings for them. However, the 35-year-old missed a month with a forearm injury and has been unreliable due to health issues, pitching fewer than 40 innings in three of the past four seasons.

The Dodgers also held a club option on third baseman Max Muncy this offseason. They negotiated a two-year, $24 million contract extension instead.