Merrill Kelly’s Surprise Return to Diamondbacks Ignites Speculation – What’s Really Behind the $40 Million Deal?

Merrill Kelly’s journey in baseball has been anything but ordinary — and now, just months after a surprising trade sent him from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Texas Rangers, word has it he’s heading back to Arizona on a two-year, $40 million contract. At 37 years old, Kelly’s latest season saw him post a respectable 3.52 ERA across 184 innings, split between two ballclubs. It’s the kind of bounce-back story that makes you root for a player who’s carved a unique path to longevity in the majors. From being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays but never getting “the call,” to taking a detour overseas playing for Korea’s SK Wyverns, then returning stateside to a rocky start with the Diamondbacks — and now reestablishing himself as a dependable ace — Kelly’s tale is one of resilience and strategic craft.

Despite lacking the high-octane speed or eye-popping strikeouts many starters flaunt, he’s thrived thanks to a broad arsenal of pitches and surgical precision, maintaining steady innings even as he moves deeper into his 30s. The D-backs’ move to bring him back isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s a calculated move while their front-line starter Corbin Burnes recovers from surgery. Kelly’s no flashy superstar, but he’s proven time and again that grit and guile can keep you valuable in the bullpen shuffle. As he gears up for this next chapter in Arizona, it’s clear his story isn’t just about stats — it’s about heart, persistence, and the game’s often unpredictable nature. LEARN MORE

Merrill Kelly has no ill will toward the Arizona Diamondbacks. Months after the team traded him to the Texas Rangers, Kelly reportedly returned to his former franchise, agreeing to a two-year, $40 million deal to re-join Arizona, per multiple reports.

Kelly, 37, is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.52 ERA over 184 innings split between the Diamondbacks and Rangers.

Kelly’s career has taken quite a few turns since he was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010. After putting up solid numbers in the minors with the Rays, Kelly never got the call to the majors. He eventually decided to play in Korea, signing with the SK Wyverns in 2015 and spending four years in the Korea Baseball Organization.

He returned to the majors in 2019 and signed a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks. His first year back wasn’t smooth. Kelly had a 4.91 ERA over his first 27 starts in the majors. Threatened with a demotion, Kelly rebounded down the stretch, posting a 2.18 ERA over his final five starts. Those starts may have saved his MLB career.

Kelly looked solid in just five starts in 2020 before an injury shut him down for the season. He put up an average year in 2021, posting a 4.44 ERA over 158 innings.

The following year, however, Kelly found another gear. He led the league with 33 starts, posting a 3.37 ERA over 200 1/3 innings. Those improvements have stuck. Since 2022, Kelly has a 3.47 ERA over 108 starts in the majors.

He became the Diamondbacks’ de-facto ace over that period and started Game 2 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers in 2023.

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Kelly isn’t known for elite velocity or big strikeout numbers, instead succeeding thanks to a large repertoire of pitches and pinpoint location. That can sometimes be a tough line to walk in the majors, but it has helped Kelly remain effective as he’s hit his upper-30s. While he’s dealt with some injuries during his career, Kelly has mostly been durable, tossing at least 150 innings or more in four of his last five seasons.

The Diamondbacks clearly believe Kelly can continue to put up strong numbers despite his age, reportedly signing him through his age-38 season. The team will need him early, as ace Corbin Burnes is recovering from Tommy John surgery to start the 2026 season.

Kelly might not be the flashiest starter, but he’s proven to be a valuable rotation piece after some early-career struggles. After a brief departure to Texas, it’s only fitting that Kelly returns to Arizona — the place he blossomed into a reliable pitcher — for one more ride.