Rangers Acquire Merrill Kelly in Blockbuster Deadline Deal
The Texas Rangers send three of their top 20 prospects to the Diamondbacks for Merrill Kelly
Rangers Acquire Kelly, Send Three Prospects to Bolster Rotation
In a surprising move, the Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly to solidify their starting rotation. The move likely will push either Kumar Rocker or Jack Leiter into the bullpen or potentially lead to discussions of a six-man rotation to preserve the arms of Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Kelly.
In a corresponding move, an infielder was designated for assignment (DFA) to make room on the 40-man roster.
Kelly, 36, is eligible for free agency after the season unless he re-signs. He holds a 3.22 ERA this season and a 2.87 ERA over his last 15 starts. Kelly brings postseason experience, having held the Rangers scoreless for seven innings in Game 2 of the 2023 World Series, allowing only a Mitch Garver solo home run. The acquisition also could strengthen the bullpen, as it may necessitate moving one of the Rangers' young pitchers there. Kumar Rocker, for instance, could become a premier bullpen piece for the postseason race. However, these moves remain speculative as Rocker is scheduled to start tonight against Seattle, and neither General Manager Chris Young nor Manager Bruce Bochy has commented.
In return, the Rangers sent prospects Kohl Drake (No. 5), Mitch Bratt (No. 9) and David Hagaman (No. 13). The acquisition of three top-15 organizational pitching prospects is a significant haul for a 36-year-old right-hander who will be a free agent. The move signals the Rangers' belief that their offense will complement the pitching, unlike much of the 2025 season.
Kohl Drake emerged last year. After adding muscle mass and refining his pitches, he quickly moved through the Rangers' system. He recently was promoted to Triple-A, where he posted a 5.19 ERA in four appearances after recording a 2.44 ERA in 12 appearances at Double-A Frisco.
Mitch Bratt, the No. 9 prospect, is a left-hander whose success relies more on pitchability than overpowering velocity. The 22-year-old left-hander struggled during a call-up last year but improved after offseason work, posting a 3.18 ERA in 18 games, pitching 90 2/3 innings at Frisco. Both Bratt and Drake could reach the major leagues before the end of the 2026 season.
David Hagaman, the No. 13 prospect, was drafted in the fourth round in 2024. After recovering from internal brace surgery, he has made eight relief appearances with a 2.82 ERA across Single-A Hickory and rookie ball. Hagaman's path to the majors may be longer than Drake's and Bratt's, but he was considered a top-five round talent in the system and is working to regain arm strength.
The long-term impact of the trade will be seen over several years, affecting both the Rangers' performance and potential postseason success, as well as the careers of the three prospects. The Rangers, demonstrating a belief they can make another deep postseason run like 2023, were buyers at the 2025 trade deadline. Only time will tell if Young and the front office made the right moves.
