Former Diamondbacks pitcher was acquired during the season, but now enters free agency and awaits MLB suitors.
The Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks late in the 2025 MLB season. The Rangers probably hoped that Kelly would be a significant help in getting Texas back into postseason play.
Kelly didn't disappoint during his time with the Rangers, performing quite well on the mound. Currently, Arizona has Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt in the Kelly deal to the Rangers. As Kelly enters free agency, though, there are going to be a number of teams in the market looking at him.
Of course, a return to the Diamondbacks is not out of the question. Besides the Rangers and Diamondbacks, other teams that might take a look at Kelly include the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and San Diego Padres.
When Kelly and the Rangers visited Chase Field in Phoenix for a series against the Diamondbacks, the club played a video saluting Kelly for his time with the ballclub. In an interview done in early September there, Kelly admitted that he'd love to finish his career with the D-backs.
"I've talked to the front office tirelessly about being a D-back for life," Kelly said in the interview for FOX10 in Phoenix. "I wanted to be a D-back my whole career." He added, "Coming back and being a D-back is never ever off the table."
It's possible that Kelly will be looking for a two-year, $30 million contract from any team he goes to before the 2026 MLB season.
For the Rangers, president of baseball operations Chris Young and manager Skip Schumaker have to see if Kelly is in their plans.
As the General Managers' meetings kick into high gear on Tuesday, they'll probably have an idea of who they want to pursue in free agency.
One other team that should get a little mention when it comes to Kelly and free agency is the Boston Red Sox. They are going to look at upgrading their pitching staff, too.
With Kelly seemingly having a desire to finish up a good career in the Valley of the Sun, maybe the Rangers simply don't pursue Kelly at all.
But it's a situation worth watching over the next few days for Rangers fans.