Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks agree on 2-year contract extension

Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed on a two-year contract extension through 2024 with a team option for 2025.

The team announced the extension Friday, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports it is valued at $18 million. Kelly’s previous deal that pays $5.3 million in 2022 deal had two more arbitration years.

Kelly, who went to Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State, got his pro start with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010 and advanced up to the Triple-A level by 2013.

The right-hander joined the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2015 and developed into a starter overseas before the D-backs signed him prior to the 2019 season.

Kelly went 13-14 as a starter in his first year pitching in MLB but only played five games in the pandemic-limited 2020 campaign due to a shoulder issue.

The 33-year-old recovered for last season, making 27 starts and going 7-11 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.28 WHIP on an Arizona team that finished tied for last in the majors at 52-110.

Kelly will be part of a rotation in 2022 that is headlined by Madison Bumgarner and Zac Gallen.

The extension is one of two significant moves by the team this offseason.

The Diamondbacks on Tuesday gave second baseman Ketel Marte a five-year extension worth $51 million in new money and $76 million overall. It goes through 2027 and includes a 2028 club option.

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