Rangers add veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly in a trade with the Diamondbacks

By Canadian Press on July 31, 2025.

PHOENIX (AP) — The Texas Rangers acquired right-hander Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, adding a veteran starter with postseason experience to fortify their rotation at the trade deadline.

The D-backs received three minor league pitchers: left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt and right-hander David Hagaman.

The 36-year-old Kelly has spent all of his seven major league seasons leagues with the Diamondbacks. He was the only Arizona pitcher to beat the Rangers in the 2023 World Series, throwing seven dominant innings in Game 2.

Kelly is 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 128 2/3 innings this season.

The Rangers entered Thursday with a 57-52 record, tied with the Seattle Mariners for the final American League wild-card spot.

The D-backs were sellers at the deadline, sending first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners in separate deals. Outfielder Randal Grichuk was shipped to the Royals.

Arizona is 51-58 after entering the season with playoff expectations. General manager Mike Hazen said it was particularly tough to lose Kelly, given his history with the organization.

“There’s the collective disappointment in how we’ve played,” Hazen said. “We all feel it. The players feel it, I’ve certainly taken responsibility, shared that with them, how I didn’t do a good enough job to keep this team in position to keep going.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

David Brandt, The Associated Press