Rangers Acquire Merrill Kelly in Deadline Trade

The Texas Rangers acquired 36-year-old starting pitcher Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the 2025 MLB trade deadline, sending prospects Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman in return. Kelly, boasting a 3.22 ERA and 121 strikeouts this season, will join a Rangers rotation featuring Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi as Texas pushes for a playoff spot in the AL West. The Diamondbacks, having fallen out of playoff contention, have initiated a broader sell-off of players with expiring contracts, including Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, and Randal Grichuk. The Rangers are treating Kelly as a rental for the remainder of the season, aiming to boost their postseason chances despite being five games behind in the division. Arizona, meanwhile, is pivoting toward rebuilding with young talent. Kelly, a key figure in Arizona's 2023 World Series run, is expected to make an immediate impact for Texas.