Merrill Kelly shipping off to Texas for 3 pitching prospects

In the final hour of the 2025 MLB trade deadline, Mike Hazen continues to make trades.

This time it’s Merrill Kelly heading to the Texas Rangers in exchange for three pitching prospects. LHP Cole Drake (AAA), LHP Mitch Bratt (AA) and RHP David Hagaman (A). All of them were top 15 prospects in the Rangers organization.

These three arms fit multiple windows for Arizona, who seem to be eyeing a 2027 playoff window.

Kelly, an ASU alum, has been steady in his seven years in Arizona. This year he was arguably the most consistent starter for the snakes.

Last week, Kelly made it known that he was okay with a trade and it wouldn’t stop him from potentially returning in the offseason. With the amount of injuries the D-backs will still be faced with next year, don’t be surprised to see him back.