(Phoenix) Merrill Kelly is officially back with the Arizona Diamondbacks, finalizing a two-year, $40 million deal on Friday.
The 37-year-old right-hander spent the first six and a half seasons of his career with the D’Backs.
In July of this year, the team traded him to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline.
His overall performance was 12-9 and a 3.52 ERA in 2025.
Kelly could become the Diamondbacks’ No. 1 starter.
Corbin Burnes is recovering from Tommy John surgery and free agent Zac Gallen is not expected to return.
A native of Scottsdale, Kelly played for Arizona State in the NCAA.
He played a key role in helping the D’Backs reach the World Series in 2023.
He earned his team’s only victory in that year’s fall classic, as Texas won in five games.
Relying mainly on a vast repertoire of six pitches, Kelly debuted in the MLB in 2019, at the age of 30. Before that, he played four seasons in South Korea.
