Phillies Claim RHP Trevor Kelley Off Waivers from Red Sox

The Phillies have made their third pitching acquisition this offseason, as on Monday they claimed right-handed reliever Trevor Kelley from the Red Sox.

Just hours before the Philadelphia Phillies decide the fate of their non-tender candidates Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez, among others, the club has made another roster transaction.

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Monday afternoon, the Phillies claimed right-handed reliever Trevor Kelley off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.

Kelley, 26, appeared in 10 games last season with the Red Sox as a rookie. In 8 1/3 combined innings, he allowed eight runs (all earned), nine hits, two home runs and five walks, while striking out six of his 40 batters faced.

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The Providence, Rhode Island, native is the team’s third pitching acquisition this offseason, having previously signed RHP Jaydenn Estanista to a minor league contract and acquired LHP Cristopher Sanchez from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kelley’s 8.64 ERA and 1.680 WHIP thus far in the majors surely are not what garnered the Phillies’ interest. Last season at Triple-A, the right-hander combined for a 1.79 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, and 63-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 65 1/3 innings and 52 appearances, 31 of which were to finish the game.

Kelley was named a Baseball America Triple-A All-Star, Mid-Season All-Star and Post-Season All-Star this past season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. The former 36th round pick is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the same school that fellow RHP Mike Morin, a Phillies reliever on this past season’s roster, attended.

Kelley, whose acquisition represents a depth move, will likely compete for a major league bullpen spot this spring training in Clearwater.