Texas Rangers Acquire Veteran Pitcher Merrill Kelly From Diamondbacks

The Texas Rangers acquired veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a major trade to strengthen their starting rotation for a postseason push, sending three top pitching prospects—Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman—to Arizona. Kelly, who boasts a 9-6 record and a 3.22 ERA this season, was the only D-backs pitcher to defeat the Rangers in the 2023 World Series, highlighting his postseason experience and reliability. The Rangers also bolstered their bullpen by acquiring Phil Maton from the Cardinals and Danny Coulombe from the Twins in separate deals. For the Diamondbacks, the decision to part with Kelly was described as emotionally difficult by GM Mike Hazen, who cited his leadership and local ties, but ultimately saw value in acquiring young pitching talent amid a disappointing season. Arizona continued its seller strategy at the deadline, trading away several key players including Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, Randal Grichuk, Shelby Miller, and Jordan Montgomery. Both teams are now charting different courses: Texas is fortifying for a playoff run, while Arizona is building for the future.