Guardians Sign Left-Hander Antoine Kelly to Minor League Deal
The 26-year-old pitcher, traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs in June, joins Cleveland's minor league system.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Baseball
Cleveland signed left-handed pitcher Antoine Kelly to a minor league contract. Kelly, 26, was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs in mid-June 2026 and made his MLB debut with Chicago that season.
Why it matters
Kelly's signing adds lefty depth to Cleveland's organization after a season split between the majors and Triple-A. It gives the Guardians a pitcher with major-league experience to evaluate during the coming offseason.
Kelly posted a 4.62 ERA and 58:41 K:BB across 50.2 Triple-A innings in 2026, including a 5.14 ERA over 21 innings with AAA Oklahoma City. He logged 1.1 MLB innings that season, with one scoreless relief outing in his debut; his major-league sample remains very small.
The players
Antoine Kelly
Antoine Kelly is a 26-year-old left-handed pitcher who has bounced between the Dodgers organization, the Cubs, and Triple-A affiliates.
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio, competing in the American League Central division.
The details
The signing was a minor league contract, not a major-league deal, meaning Kelly must earn a spot on the 40-man roster or in spring camp. Kelly spent most of 2026 at Triple-A after his mid-June trade to Chicago.
Timeline
Mid-June 2026: Kelly traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Kelly signs minor league deal with the Guardians.
Spring training 2027: Kelly expected to compete for a roster spot.
Season Trajectory
Cleveland's move reflects the offseason pattern of adding low-cost left-handed depth on minor league deals to fill out the organization's pitching pipeline. Kelly's path through three organizations in one season shows how quickly Triple-A arms can move during the year.
Kelly's minor league status means Cleveland fans will not see him on the active roster unless he earns a spot in spring camp. Fantasy managers should treat him as a deep reliever with no near-term role.
The takeaway
Minor league depth arms like Kelly can become useful bullpen pieces when injuries strike, so teams track these signings closely. Keep an eye on spring training to see whether his stuff plays up in camp.
What happens next
Kelly is expected to compete for a roster spot during spring training in 2027.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, explore Baseball coverage on Wisevoter.
