The Tigers plan to exercise Kelly's $3.5 million team option for 2024, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
After getting released by Arizona in mid-August, Kelly caught on with the Tigers shortly thereafter on a prorated one-year, $720,000 deal that included the club option for 2024. Over 19 games with the Tigers, Kelly hit just .173 and got on base at a .271 clip, but the organization was evidently satisfied enough with how the 29-year-old handled the pitching staff and acquitted himself defensively to justify bringing him back for 2024. Kelly will likely head into Opening Day as the Tigers' No. 2 catcher behind Jake Rogers.
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Tigers' Carson Kelly: Goes yard Friday
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Kelly went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 8-2 loss to the Athletics.
Kelly has seen somewhat limited playing time since signing with the Tigers on Aug. 19. He hasn't done much to earn more either, batting .190 (8-for-42) over 15 games with his new team, with his homer Friday being his first as a Tiger. He has a .214/.270/.302 slash line with two long balls, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored and one stolen base over 48 contests between Detroit and Arizona this season.
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Tigers' Carson Kelly: Signs with Detroit
Rotowire
Kelly and the Tigers agreed on a major-league contract with a club option for 2024 on Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Kelly was released by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, but it didn't take long for him to find a new squad. The catcher struggled to a .226 average with one homer, six RBI, six runs and a stolen base over 84 at-bats in 33 games with Arizona this season. Kelly will seemingly replace Eric Haase as Detroit's primary backup behind Jake Rogers moving forward after Haase was designated for assignment Saturday.
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Carson Kelly: Cut by Arizona
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The Diamondbacks released Kelly on Tuesday.
After being designated for assignment Sunday, Kelly will now begin the search for a new organization. The 29-year-old backstop was slashing .226/.283/.298 through 92 plate appearances this season and should at least draw a minor-league contract from another team.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Designated for assignment
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Kelly was designated for assignment Sunday.
Dating back to the start of last season, Kelly is slashing .214/.283/.327, and while he is generally regarded as a solid defender, the Diamondbacks decided Jose Herrera is the preferred backup option to Gabriel Moreno going forward. Given that Kelly is owed the remainder of a $4.3 million deal this season, he will likely pass through waivers and head to Triple-A Reno.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Kelly is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
The 29-year-old has worked as Arizona's primary backstop since Gabriel Moreno (shoulder) landed on the injured list, but Kelly has just a .174/.194/.232 slash line in 72 plate appearances this season. Jose Herrera will take over behind the plate for Sunday's series finale versus Seattle.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Not in lineup Friday
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Kelly is not in the lineup Friday against the Mariners.
Jose Herrera will start behind the plate and bat ninth. Kelly has slashed just .167/.188/.226 across 21 games (69 plate appearances) this season when healthy.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Resting Wednesday
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Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Kelly will hit the bench for the matinee game after starting each of the last four contests while going 1-for-11 at the dish. Jose Herrera will check in behind the dish Wednesday, but Kelly looks set to work as the Diamondbacks' No. 1 backstop after Gabriel Moreno (shoulder) was recently placed on the 10-day injured list.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Steps in as No. 1 catcher
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Kelly will start at catcher and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Reds.
With the Diamondbacks moving Gabriel Moreno (shoulder) to the 10-day injured list Sunday, Kelly looks like he'll be locked in as Arizona's clear No. 1 backstop for the time being. Kelly, who had been working in a timeshare with Moreno, is batting .175 with one home run in 60 plate appearances since returning from the 60-day injured list June 12. The 29-year-old is probably only worth a look in NL-only leagues or deeper mixed leagues that start two catchers.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Back on bench Wednesday
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Kelly is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Kelly had started at catcher in each of Arizona's last three games while going 3-for-9 with a run scored. The Diamondbacks don't appear ready to pull the plug on Gabriel Moreno, however, so despite Kelly's recent uptick in starts, he still may be part of a timeshare behind the plate.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Hits first homer of season
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Kelly went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Angels.
Kelly has provided four of his five RBI on the season over his last three games. The catcher started slowly but has hit safely in five of his last six contests. He's batting .212 with a homer, a double and two runs scored through 36 plate appearances. Gabriel Moreno continues to hold a slight edge for playing time, but Kelly could force an even split if he can keep his bat warm.
Kelly went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to Milwaukee.
Kelly got the start at catcher after Gabriel Moreno started four of the previous five games. The two hits were Kelly's first in five games since being activated off the 60-day injured list, where he began the season due to a forearm injury. He was 0-for-14 with a walk prior to his second-inning double Tuesday.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Out Sunday vs. Guardians
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Kelly is not in the starting lineup versus the Guardians on Sunday.
Kelly will take a seat after going 0-for-3 Saturday against Cleveland, and he's still searching for his first hit of the 2023 season. Gabriel Moreno gets the start behind the plate while Kelly rests.
Kelly is not in the lineup Thursday against the Phillies.
Kelly will grab some rest after logging three straight starts following his return from the 60-day injured list Monday. Gabriel Moreno is catching for the Diamondbacks on Thursday and hitting eighth.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Draws third straight start
Rotowire
Kelly will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Kelly has now started in three straight games since returning from the 60-day injured list Monday for his 2023 debut with the Diamondbacks and looks as though he'll operate as Arizona's top catcher ahead of Gabriel Moreno. However, given that Kelly is off to an 0-for-7 start at the plate since being activated, he may have to pick up the pace with the bat to ensure he sticks ahead of Moreno on the depth chart for the balance of the season.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Starting Monday
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Kelly is starting at catcher and batting seventh Monday versus the Phillies.
Kelly was activated from the 60-day injured list and will make his return to the lineup Monday. He'll replace Gabriel Moreno behind the plate, who he'll likely have to compete with for playing time moving forward.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Reinstated from 60-day IL
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Kelly (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Monday, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Kelly will make his return to the Diamondbacks' roster after he was placed on the injured list in late March with a fractured right forearm. The 28-year-old will be returning to a first place Arizona squad after he produced a .345 average with three doubles, four RBI and five runs scored over 29 at-bats over his eight-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno. Kelly will have to compete with Gabriel Moreno for reps at catcher moving forward, though Kelly could be eased back into fielding duties and operate more frequently as a designated hitter for the time being. He is coming off of a down year in 2022 where he posted a .211/.282/.334 slash line, all of which were his lowest marks over his three seasons with Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Gets timing down
Rotowire
Kelly (forearm) went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.
This was the fifth game of a rehab assignment for Kelly, who appears to be getting his timing down at the plate. He went 0-for-5 in the first two games but is 5-for-12 in the three games since. He started at catcher Tuesday and is scheduled to start behind the plate Wednesday, after which the team will assess whether to have him play a third consecutive game Thursday, per Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said that assessment will not include the possibility of Kelly being reinstated, saying the focus is on building stamina and accumulating reps.
Kelly (forearm) started at catcher and went 0-for-3 with a walk for Triple-A Reno on Friday.
This was Kelly's second rehab start, both coming at catcher. He was limited to three innings Thursday due to rainy weather and followed up with seven innings Friday. Kelly is 0-for-5 in his two starts.
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Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly: Closing in on rehab assignment
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Kelly (forearm) is expected to report to a minor-league affiliate Thursday to begin a rehab assignment, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Kelly was cleared to begin participating in simulated games at extended spring training last week, but he now appears set to get some at-bats in an uncontrolled setting. The veteran catcher has been sidelined since fracturing his right forearm in a March 20 Cactus League game and will likely need an extended rehab assignment to regain his timing at the plate and to show the Diamondbacks that he isn't hampered when it comes to throwing out would-be base stealers. Once activated, Kelly will likely settle in as the top backup to Gabriel Moreno, who has fared well during his first season with the Diamondbacks.
