The Athletic names Merrill Kelly as best potential free-agent deal for D-backs

The Athletic’s Andy McCullough named the best potential free-agent deal for the Arizona Diamondbacks and its a very familiar player to D-backs fans.

McCullough named pitcher Merrill Kelly as the best potential Black Friday free-agent deal for Arizona. He noted Kelly’s ties to the D-backs and Arizona, including playing at Desert Mountain High School and Arizona State University, as key reasons why Kelly reuniting with the team would be a good fit.

This time last year, I suggested the Diamondbacks reunite with Paul Goldschmidt. Didn’t happen. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying. Kelly went to high school and college in Arizona. After reviving his big-league hopes in Korea, he spent seven seasons as a Diamondback. His ties to the organization and the area are strong, even after being traded away this past summer.

Kelly pitched for Arizona from 2019-25 before being traded to the Texas Rangers ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Between his time with the D-backs and Rangers, Kelly pitched 194 innings across 32 starts in 2025, posting a 3.52 ERA with 167 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP.

McCullough isn’t the only writer to name Kelly, as MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand and the Athletic’s Jim Bowden also listed the veteran as a potential fit for Arizona. Bowden also noted his ties to Arizona as a good reason why he would be a good fit for the D-backs.

Kelly grew up in Arizona and played his junior college and college ball in the state. Don’t be surprised if he re-signs with the Diamondbacks to finish his career with them.

Kelly would certainly fill a need for the D-backs’ starting rotation as Zac Gallen is a free agent and Corbin Burnes is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Whomever signs with Arizona will likely join lefty Eduardo Rodriguez and righties Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt in the rotation.

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