White Sox officially announce signing of pitchers Joe Kelly and Vince Velasquez

The White Sox officially announced the signing Monday of right-handed reliever Joe Kelly and RHP Vince Velasquez.

Kelly, 33, had ERAs of 1.80 and 2.86 in his last two seasons with the Dodgers. A ground-ball pitcher with swing-and-miss stuff, Kelly has appeared in 40 postseason games with the Cardinals, Red Sox and Dodgers, posting a 3.55 ERA.

The Sox’ bullpen already was a strength, and Kelly’s addition adds even more depth.

Velasquez, 29, who owns a 31-44 record with a 4.95 ERA in seven seasons, is a 2010 second-round draft pick of the Astros who hasn’t improved on his first two seasons in the majors. In 2021, he was released by the Phillies after posting a 5.95 ERA in 17 starts and four relief appearances, then had an 8.53 ERA in four starts for the Padres.

The Sox figure to lump Velasquez in the same group of sixth or seventh starters and long relievers with Reynaldo Lopez and Jimmy Lambert. Velasquez has had good strikeout stuff, as well as command issues, during his career.