Get ready for a wild ride as we dive into the 2025 season of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the remarkable journey of pitcher Merrill Kelly!
A Diamond in the Rough: Merrill Kelly's MLB Odyssey
Merrill Kelly, a seasoned veteran, embarked on his seventh MLB season in 2025, all with the Diamondbacks. While Arizona's roster suffered a series of unfortunate injuries, especially among their pitchers, Kelly stood tall, consistently delivering quality performances, even with a few early exits due to muscle issues.
2025 was a pivotal year for Kelly, as it marked the end of his contract with Arizona. This meant that, depending on the team's performance, Kelly might never don another team's jersey. However, if Arizona faltered, Kelly's ability to pitch through injuries and eat up innings could make him a valuable trade asset.
Kelly's time with the Diamondbacks has been filled with standout performances. In 2025 alone, he delivered two games with game scores exceeding 80. His most impressive outing came on a beautiful May evening against the Colorado Rockies in Phoenix. Kelly, unaffected by the Chase Field HVAC issues, threw a seven-inning shutout, allowing just one hit and striking out 11 batters while walking only three.
This was just one of four games where Kelly completed seven innings for the Diamondbacks, and in those outings, he conceded a total of only two runs. Kelly also had two additional games where he pitched into the seventh inning, giving up a combined four runs. In 12 of his 22 starts for Arizona in 2025, Kelly delivered quality starts, essentially carrying the pitching staff until Ryne Nelson found his stride.
Despite Kelly's efforts, Arizona had a rough July and a troubling August. This put Kelly on the trade block, along with Zac Gallen, who was also in his final year of team control. Unlike Gallen, who seemed to be affected by trade rumors, Kelly continued to deliver solid performance after solid performance. That is, until the trade deadline passed, and Gallen found his groove while Kelly hit a sudden slump.
On deadline day, Kelly was traded to the Texas Rangers, a team that offered little in return. In exchange for Kelly's 10 starts, the Rangers sent three pitching prospects to Arizona: Mitch Bratt, Kohl Drake, and David Hagaman. Kelly's performance with Texas was underwhelming, to say the least. His ERA+ dropped from an impressive 134 with the Diamondbacks to a dismal 87 with Texas. In 10 starts, Kelly managed only three quality starts and failed to complete five innings in three other outings, including a disastrous game against the Houston Astros where he gave up six runs on nine hits and a walk in just three innings.
Arizona fans got a chance to see Kelly one last time when the Rangers visited Phoenix. It was one of Kelly's better starts for Texas, pitching seven innings and allowing only two runs, but he took a no-decision in a game Texas eventually lost.
The Future: Kelly's Return and the Road Ahead
From the moment Kelly was traded, there were speculations that it was a temporary move, and indeed, Kelly signed a new deal with Arizona on December 19th, a two-year contract with a vesting option for a third season, ensuring Kelly's desired 10 years of MLB service time. If he reaches 170 innings pitched in 2027, the 2028 option will vest, a mark he has achieved in four of his six seasons. He came close in his other full season, throwing 158 innings in 2021.
As of now, Arizona is heavily relying on Kelly in 2026, with him leading the rotation due to Corbin Burnes' continued rehabilitation. Kelly will be pitching in his age 37 season, and with over 1000 innings pitched since his return to the States in 2019, he faces a challenging battle against Father Time. Arizona hopes Kelly still has something left in the tank to justify the significant contract he signed.
And there you have it, folks! Merrill Kelly's journey with the Diamondbacks and his unexpected trade to the Rangers. What do you think? Was the trade a wise move? Or did Arizona let go of a valuable asset? Let's discuss in the comments!
