Merrill Kelly Traded to Texas Rangers to Boost Rotation

Veteran right-handed starter Merrill Kelly has been acquired by the Texas Rangers from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade deadline move. The Rangers received the 36-year-old pitcher, who has posted a 9-6 record with a 3.22 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 128 2/3 innings in 22 starts this season. Kelly, who spent all seven of his major league seasons with Arizona and notably pitched seven dominant innings against the Rangers in the 2023 World Series, is in his walk year and will be a free agent after the season, with the acquisition expected to bolster Texas's rotation for a playoff push. In exchange, the Diamondbacks received minor league pitchers Kohl Drake, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman.