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The Texas Rangers drastically improved their chances of making a run at the American League West on Thursday, pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rangers acquired right-handed starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, who is having another stellar year, for three prospects.
Kelly, the 36-year-old veteran, is having one of the best seasons of his career. In 22 starts, he is 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA and an even more impressive 1.06 WHIP (walks+hits per inning pitched). He has also racked up 121 strikeouts over 128.1 innings this season.
The Houston, Texas native did not even make his big league debut until he was 30 years old. That partially explains his resurgence with the Diamondbacks over the last couple of years.
He will likely slot right in near third in the Rangers' rotation that is already stacked at the top. Jacob deGrom is having a Cy Young-type season, going 10-3 with a 2.55 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Nathan Eovaldi has arguably been the best second-pitcher in the majors this year, boasting a 9-3 record with a 1.49 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.
Tyler Mahle was having a solid season prior to going down with a shoulder injury. He is slated to begin a throwing program sometime next week, but is still a ways away from a return. Jack Leiter rounds out the rotation upon Kelly's arrival. But he would likely be the odd man out were the Rangers to make the postseason.
Texas sits five games back of the division-leading Houston Astros with two months left to play in the regular season. The Astros were also very busy at the MLB trade deadline, including bringing Carlos Correa back to H-Town.
In return, the D'Backs landed some serious pitching talent. They acquired three pitching prospects- LHP Cole Drake (AAA #5 prospect, 3.10 ERA 15 GS 6'5), LHP Mitch Bratt (AA #9) RHP David Hagaman (A #13).
But Texas was not done making moves with the Kelly trade. They strengthened their bullpen, acquiring relief pitcher Phil Maton from the St. Louis Cardinals, per Jeff Passan.
