Arizona brings back starting pitcher Merrill Kelly

Merrill Kelly (Barry Stahl, Wikimedia Commons)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back starting pitcher Merrill Kelly of Houston, Texas according to Rogers Sportsnet. The 37-year-old right hander spent six full seasons in Arizona before splitting last season with the Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers. Kelly signed a two-year contract worth $40 million.

Kelly had a record of 12 wins and nine losses last season with an earned run average of 3.52. During 184 innings pitched, he gave up 157 hits, 72 earned runs, 23 home runs, and 48 walks, to go along with 167 strikeouts and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.11.

It was a bounce back season for Kelly. He only pitched in 13 games in 2024 because of a strained right shoulder. Kelly was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Rangers on July 31 for minor leaguers Mitch Bratt, Kohl Drake and David Hagaman. Bratt, Drake and Hagaman are all pitchers. Bratt is Canadian as he is from Newmarket, Ontario.

It will now be interesting to see if the Diamondbacks try to bring back Zac Gallen of Somerdale, New Jersey. It was somewhat a disappointing season for Gallen as he had a career worst 4.83 earned run average and gave up 103 earned runs, the most earned runs he has ever allowed in his career.

One team that is showing interest in Gallen are the San Francisco Giants. One needs to keep in mind that the Giants went after future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in last year’s offseason, and it did not work out at all, as he only posted a record of four wins and 11 losses.