*This is a prediction*
As MLB Free Agency continues to progress, there are still numerous quality starting pitchers that remain available for teams to sign, and one of them is Merrill Kelly.
Entering free agency, Merrill Kelly didn’t necessarily have the end to the 2025 season as he would’ve hoped, as after being traded to the Texas Rangers, he finished 2025 with a 4.23 ERA with them.
Merrill Kelly, in the right situation, can still provide impactful pitching depth, and the team that can look to sign him is the one he started off on last year and had success with, and that is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Merrill Kelly Signs With the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026 MLB Free Agency
The Arizona Diamondbacks are in the midst of an interesting offseason, as they are looking for ways to restructure the team a bit to lessen their payroll, but also aren’t too far off from contending as they finished with an 80-82 record last season. If Arizona wishes to stay at least somewhat competitive, they are in dire need of starting pitching this offseason to accomplish this.
With Merrill Kelly entering free agency, and not having re-signed with the Rangers, it presents the perfect reunion chance for the Diamondbacks. Kelly even went on to speak on the potential of a reunion with saying, “The front office knows how fond I am of being here and being home. I know my wife is fond of being here and being home.”
There are a lot of connecting factors for Merrill Kelly to return to Arizona, as it is a place where he played throughout his high school and college career, while he and his wife still have a home in Arizona. With Kelly also having spent seven years with the Diamondbacks, where he had a 3.74 ERA, 1.194 WHIP, and 865 strikeouts, it makes sense for both sides for a return to happen.