Rangers, Astros, D-Backs Make Major Trade Deadline Moves

At the MLB trade deadline, the Texas Rangers acquired veteran starter Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Kohl Drake and right-hander David Hagaman, aiming to strengthen their rotation for a postseason run. Kelly, with a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts, joins a pitching staff led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. The Diamondbacks, impacted by injuries and recent struggles, traded away Kelly and other key players as they transition into a full rebuild targeting 2025. The Houston Astros reunited with shortstop Carlos Correa via trade with the Twins and added outfielder Jesús Sánchez from the Marlins to address depth needs. The Astros chose not to acquire high-cost starting pitching at the deadline, instead relying on players returning from the injured list. These moves illustrate contrasting strategies, with the Rangers and Astros pushing for the playoffs and the Diamondbacks shifting to long-term rebuilding.