PHOENIX (AP) — Merrill Kelly’s return to the desert is official after the Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that a two-year, $40 million deal has been finalized.
The sides reached a tentative agreement on Sunday, but the deal was pending a physical. The right-hander will receive a $2 million signing bonus, a $17 million salary in 2026 and $21 million in 2027.
There is also a vesting option for 2028.
He was good for both teams, finishing with a combined 12-9 record and 3.52 ERA.
Kelly could open next spring as the D-backs No. 1 starter in a rotation that is expected to include Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez. Ace Corbin Burnes is still recovering from Tommy John surgery while 2023 All-Star Zac Gallen is a free agent and appears unlikely to re-sign.
Kelly’s return to the desert isn’t a huge surprise considering he’s a Scottsdale native and played at Arizona State.
The fan favorite was a key piece of the team that went to the World Series in 2023. He had a 12-8 record and a 3.29 ERA that season, adding a masterful performance in Game 2 of the World Series against the Rangers, which is the only game the D-backs win in the Fall Classic.
Kelly doesn’t have overpowering stuff but thrives with a six-pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance. He has carved out a solid MLB career despite not making his debut until he was 30 in 2019.
He played four seasons in South Korea from 2015 to 2018, going 48-32 with a 3.86 ERA.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this story.
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