Having initially joined the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2018, Merrill Kelly established himself as an important part of the starting rotation, spending six and a half seasons with the team.
He was traded to the Texas Rangers halfway through the 2025 season, before opting for free agency at the campaign’s conclusion. In December 2025, he reunited with his former employers, signing a two-year, $40 million contract to return to Chase Field.
Speaking to MLB Network Radio on Thursday, Kelly explained why he decided to re-sign with the Diamondbacks.
“You know, I’ve seen the potential of this team. Somebody said it the other day, I didn’t realize it, but there are 15 guys on this roster that were on that World Series run. So I’ve seen what we can do. I’ve seen the ball that we can play. Obviously, we’ve added some good pieces in the offseason. It was pretty intriguing coming back. But it’s good, it’s good energy. The guys we brought in kind of seem to fit right away,” Kelly said.
“I think we brought in some good veterans with Nolan (Arenado) and Carlos (Santana), who are going to kind of guide not only the young guys, but some of the guys that have been around a little bit. I think the energy’s good, and we’re pretty confident. Obviously, as we go out throughout the year, we’re going to get Burnesy (Corbin Burnes) back, we’re going to get (A.J.) Puk back, we’re going to get J-Mart (Justin Martinez) back at some point. As we get those pieces back, I think it’ll just give us even more momentum and carry us through the end of the year,” he added.
Merrill Kelly Was Always “Open” To The Idea Of Returning To The Arizona Diamondbacks
Midway through the 2025 season, when Merrill Kelly was about to move to Arlington to join the Texas Rangers, he sat down for a chat with insider Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Even at that point, he expressed his desire to return to Chase Field in the future.
“These guys know where I stand on being a Diamondback. Obviously, I understand the nature of the beast and the business aspect of it. The idea of — if I do get traded and if I do go somewhere — playing for a team that’s contending right now and has a good chance of going to the playoffs and going to the World Series, at this point in my career. I’m open to that, of course,” Kelly said.
“I don’t know how many more years I have left. Hopefully, enough. At this point in my career, I think anything can happen, so the chance to win is obviously at the forefront of my mind. That all being said, I love being here. I have always loved being here. I would always be open to being a snake moving forward,” he added.
Merrill Kelly finished the 2025 season with a 12-9 record, a 3.54 ERA, and 167 strikeouts.
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