Arizona Diamondbacks Transfer Merrill Kelly to Texas at Major League Baseball's Trade Deadline
Arizona Diamondbacks Shake Up Roster Ahead of Postseason Race
The Arizona Diamondbacks are in a tough spot, having lost eight of their last nine games and finding themselves nine games behind San Diego in the race for the National League (NL) wild card spot. In an effort to turn things around, the team has traded four of their five key "walk year" players in the last eight days.
The most notable departure is that of Merrill Kelly, the team's best pitcher this season. Kelly was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for three minor league pitchers: left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt, and right-hander David Hagaman. Drake (No. 5) and Bratt (No. 9) were ranked among the Rangers' top 10 prospects by MLB Pipeline, while Hagaman (13th) was a fourth-round pick in 2024.
Another significant trade saw third baseman Eugenio Suárez heading to the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Diamondbacks received first baseman Tyler Locklear, right-hander Juan Burgos, and right-hander Hunter Cranton. Locklear, a first baseman, is projected to be a starter for the Diamondbacks in 2026.
The Mariners have also benefited from the trade, as Suárez and Josh Naylor, who will hit in the middle of their order, will join Cal Raleigh, who leads the major leagues with 41 homers.
The Diamondbacks have also traded players such as Randal Grichuk, Shelby Miller, and Jordan Montgomery in recent days. However, the trade for Grichuk did not involve the receipt of any minor league players from the Kansas City Royals.
The Texas Rangers, who have acquired Kelly, have a high-functioning rotation, with veterans Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi leading. DeGrom is 10-3 with a 2.55 ERA, and Eovaldi is 9-3, 1.59, in their first healthy seasons since 2020. The Rangers' starting group has a 3.16 ERA and a .222 batting average against, both tops in the American League (AL).
Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks' lone remaining veteran on an expiring contract, has struggled this season, posting a 7-12 record with a 5.60 ERA, the worst numbers of his career.
In an attempt to bolster their roster, the Diamondbacks signed free agent right-hander Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million deal. However, Burnes suffered a season-ending elbow injury in June, leaving the Diamondbacks with a payroll of a franchise record $187 million and a 1.6% chance of making the postseason, according to FanGraphs.
With the trade deadline passed and their postseason hopes dwindling, the Diamondbacks will look to rebuild and regroup, focusing on the future rather than the present.
Merrill Kelly, previously with the Arizona Diamondbacks, is now with the Texas Rangers, reinforcing their already formidable rotation, especially with veterans Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi leading.
Bruce Bochy, the Diamondbacks' manager, might be looking towards the future as they, currently in a postseason race slump, recently traded key players like Merrill Kelly, Shelby Miller, and Jordan Montgomery, and signed free agent Corbin Burnes, despite his season-ending injury.
