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Merrill Kelly is heading back to familiar ground. The veteran right-hander has agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a source confirmed, marking a reunion less than a year after the club dealt him away at the trade deadline.
Kelly immediately slots back near the top of Arizona’s rotation, providing stability and experience for a staff that endured significant injury issues last season.
A Trusted Fixture Back in Arizona
Kelly, 37, spent more than six seasons anchoring the Diamondbacks’ rotation before being traded to Texas last summer. Across 162 starts with Arizona, he posted a 3.74 ERA and established himself as one of the league’s most dependable mid-rotation arms. His legacy with the organization peaked during the club’s 2023 World Series run, when he delivered a dominant 2.25 ERA over 24 postseason innings and consistently rose to the moment on the game’s biggest stage.
After the trade, Kelly split the 2025 season between Arizona and Texas, finishing 12–9 with a 3.42 ERA and 167 strikeouts across 32 starts. While his raw stuff doesn’t overwhelm hitters, his changeup-driven approach, command, and ability to grind through innings continue to make him a reliable option every fifth day.
Stabilizing a Rotation in Flux
Arizona’s rotation remains a work in progress following a disappointing, injury-marred 2025 campaign. Kelly joins a projected group that includes Michael Soroka, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Eduardo Rodriguez, with Corbin Burnes not expected back until the second half of the season. His presence gives the Diamondbacks a known commodity at the front of the staff and reduces pressure on younger arms still finding consistency at the Major League level.
Kelly’s durability has long been a calling card. Outside of the shortened 2020 season and an injury-affected 2024, he has routinely made at least 27 starts per year, earning the nickname “Merrill the Mainstay” within the organization.
A Full-Circle Reunion After the Deadline Deal
The Diamondbacks sent Kelly to the Rangers at last year’s trade deadline in exchange for three pitching prospects as part of a broader sell-off. Despite that move, Arizona stayed in the playoff race until the final week of the season, and Kelly made it clear he hoped to return once he reached free agency. A Phoenix-area resident and former Arizona State standout, finishing his career in a Diamondbacks uniform has long appealed to him.
The contract slightly exceeds industry projections, signaling Arizona’s willingness to pay a premium for familiarity and dependability in a thin starting pitching market.
What Comes Next for the Diamondbacks
Kelly’s return represents the organization’s most significant financial commitment of the offseason and adds clarity to the rotation picture, though additional pitching help could still be in play. Arizona’s payroll flexibility remains a talking point, especially with ongoing trade discussions surrounding Ketel Marte, but the signing of Kelly alone does not appear to dictate the club’s next move.
For now, the Diamondbacks get exactly what they needed most: a proven, steady presence who knows the organization, the ballpark, and the expectations. In a rotation searching for certainty, Merrill Kelly provides it.
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