What started as a quiet trade deadline for the Texas Rangers quickly turned dramatic with the acquisition of one of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ top starting pitchers.
Less than an hour before the deadline, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Rangers had traded for veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly. In return, Texas is sending three of its top prospects — No. 5 Kohl Drake, No. 9 Mitch Bratt, and No. 13 David Hagaman — to Arizona. Kelly, 36, is in the final year of his contract and will become a free agent at season’s end.
This season, Kelly owns a 9-6 record with a 3.22 ERA, 121 strikeouts, and a 1.06 WHIP over 128 2/3 innings. His arrival bolsters an already stacked Rangers rotation that includes Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, and a revitalized Patrick Corbin — potentially making it the best in baseball.
The Rangers are no strangers to Kelly. He was the only Diamondbacks starter to quiet their bats during the 2023 World Series, tossing seven innings of one-run ball in Arizona’s lone win of the series.
Kelly’s 2023 postseason numbers:
- 4 starts
- 2.25 ERA
- 0.83 WHIP
- 28 strikeouts, 8 walks
- 7 IP, 9 K in World Series Game 2
Texas also made a separate deal earlier, acquiring left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe from the Twins in exchange for a minor league arm.
However, questions remain: Did the Rangers shed payroll to make room for Kelly? Did ownership finally green-light exceeding the luxury tax? And are more moves coming?
According to Evan Grant, the Rangers are still eyeing bullpen help. One thing is certain — the AL West trade deadline just went full throttle.