Rangers Acquire Merrill Kelly from Diamondbacks for Top Prospects

By Oliver Wiener August 04, 2025 12:56

The Texas Rangers made a key addition to their rotation by acquiring veteran right-handed starter Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade finalized just before the 2025 MLB deadline. The Rangers sent three pitching prospects lefties Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt plus right-hander David Hagaman to Arizona in exchange for Kelly, a move aimed at bolstering their starting pitching depth for the crucial playoff push.

At 36 years old, Kelly brings a steady, proven presence to the Rangers’ rotation, which already features top arms Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. This season, Kelly has posted a solid 3.22 ERA and a 133 ERA+ over 22 starts totaling 128⅔ innings, striking out 121 batters. While he doesn’t possess overpowering velocity, averaging around 92 mph on his fastball, Kelly excels with pitch sequencing, a diverse six-pitch arsenal, and notably strong command that induces hitters to chase pitches out of the zone. His career 114 ERA+ and 16.9 WAR over seven MLB seasons demonstrate consistent mid-rotation effectiveness .

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels emphasized Kelly’s value in adding rotation depth: “Merrill complements our top-tier starters and gives us a reliable arm headed into the playoff stretch. His ability to pitch deep into games and keep hitters off-balance fits well with our team’s pitching philosophy.” The Rangers currently sit tied with the Mariners for the final American League Wild Card spot and trail the AL West-leading Astros by five games, underscoring the urgency to strengthen their pitching staff.

For the Diamondbacks, trading Kelly a player in the final year of a modest $7 million contract represents a clear pivot toward rebuilding. Arizona received three promising young pitchers in return, including Kohl Drake, who has shown promise in Double-A with a 3.10 ERA and solid strikeout to walk ratio, and Mitch Bratt and David Hagaman, both viewed as controllable arms with future upside. The D-backs have struggled this season, falling below .500 due to injuries and underperformance from several key players, making the acquisition of prospects a priority over retaining veterans for a short-term playoff push.

Kelly’s recent performance has been especially strong, with nine of his last ten starts featuring three or fewer earned runs and a 2.56 ERA over that span. His experience pitching in high-pressure situations, including a notable 2023 World Series run where he posted a 3-1 record with 2.25 ERA in four starts, adds significant postseason credibility to the Rangers’ staff.

Financially, the Rangers assumed about $2.22 million of Kelly’s salary for the remainder of the season, a reasonable cost for a high-caliber arm on a team with serious postseason ambitions. Furthermore, because Kelly changed teams midseason, he will not be subject to a qualifying offer, allowing the Rangers to explore contract extension opportunities or sign him outright if he returns to full form.

In summary, the Rangers’ acquisition of Merrill Kelly is a strategic move that strengthens an already formidable rotation, blending veteran savvy with playoff experience. It provides the team with needed depth behind their aces while giving the Diamondbacks a chance to restock their farm system with promising young talent. Rangers fans can look forward to Kelly’s impact as a reliable, durable starter in the stretch run and potential postseason battles.