The Texas Rangers have acquired veteran right-handed beginning pitcher Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the staff introduced Thursday. The Diamondbacks obtain minor-league left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Brratt and minor-league right-hander David Hagaman within the return.
Even at age 36, Kelly stays a gradual and high quality presence in a big-league rotation. This season, he is put up an ERA of three.22 (133 ERA+) and an FIP of three.54 in 22 begins and 128 ⅔ innings. Whereas he has below-average velocity, Kelly particularly this season has been profitable at getting hitters to chase exterior the strike zone along with his deep and balanced repertoire. For his profession, Kelly has an ERA+ of 114 and a WAR of 16.9 throughout components of seven MLB seasons — all, till now, with the Diamondbacks.
Kelly is in his stroll yr and owed the steadiness of a modest $7 million wage earlier than being eligible free of charge company. As a result of Kelly has now modified groups through the season, he is ineligible to obtain a qualifying supply heading into the winter. He’s, nevertheless, free to signal an extension with Texas and even signal with them after he hits the open market. First, although, comes the stretch drive and maybe playoffs.
On the opposite facet of the deal, Drake, age 25 and a former fifth-rounder, has logged a 3.10 ERA and three.11 Ok/BB ratio in 16 begins and one reduction look cut up between the Double- and Triple-A ranges. The 22-year-old Hagaman, a former fourth-rounder out of West Virginia College, is in his first professional season. He is put up a 2.82 ERA and a 4.67 Ok/BB ratio in eight begins in rookie ball and Low-A.
Texas makes the transfer as they’re tied with the division-rival Mariners for the third and last wild card spot within the AL. They’re additionally 5 video games again of the AL West-leading Astros. The Rangers have a formidable rotation entrance of Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, and the addition of Kelly now solidifies what had been an absence of depth behind these tandem aces and improves their potential playoff rotation.
For the D-backs, it is the gaming enthusiast promote transfer in response to their disappointing 2025 so far. Anticipated to contend this season, accidents, unhealthy luck, and a few poor performances at key spots pushed Arizona to under .500 main as much as the deadline. The Kelly commerce comes after they dealt slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez to the Mariners on Wednesday and Josh Naylor to Seattle and outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Royals earlier within the week. They will presumably look to return to rivalry in 2026, however for now they’re including younger expertise in return for his or her walk-year veterans like Kelly.