BREAKING: Diamondbacks Trade Merrill Kelly To AL Team

July 31, 2025 ,

The Texas Rangers have acquired Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in a huge move at the trade deadline.

In exchange, three minor leaguers are headed back to Arizona, including Kohl Drake (TEX 5th ranked prospect), Mitch Bratt (9th ranked), and David Hagaman (13th ranked).

Rangers Add Experienced Arm to Dominant Rotation

Kelly, 36, brings a steady veteran presence to a Rangers rotation that already owns the lowest ERA in Major League Baseball. The right-hander has been a model of consistency this season, going 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and a 1.06 WHIP in 22 starts. 

Texas, which has surged into playoff contention with a 16-8 record in July, now pairs Kelly with Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi at the top of its rotation.

Arizona, sitting fourth in the NL West, opted to move Kelly before his contract expires at season’s end. The Diamondbacks acquired three of Texas’ top 15 prospects: left-handers Drake (No. 5) and Bratt (No. 9) along with right-hander Hagaman (No. 13). 

Kelly, a key contributor in Arizona’s 2023 World Series run, will now look to help Texas secure another deep October push.

Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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