Merrill Kelly is delivering a standout performance for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, boasting a 9-5 record and a 3.32 ERA over 21 starts. Leading the team with 12 quality starts, Kelly has been a key figure in the rotation, maintaining consistency despite a few challenging outings. As the July 31 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB trade deadline approaches, Kelly’s combination of experience and value has made him one of the most talked-about players on the market.
Currently in the final year of a team-friendly contract extension that will expire after the 2025 season, Kelly represents an attractive trade asset for clubs aiming to strengthen their pitching staff. The Diamondbacks, sitting at 50-53 and trailing the San Diego Padres by 5.5 games for the third National League Wild Card spot, appear poised to act as sellers this summer.
Arizona’s Position Ahead of the Trade Deadline
With the team unlikely to contend for a postseason berth this year, the Diamondbacks are considering moving several key players whose contracts will expire at season’s end. Alongside Kelly, six other prominent free agents could be traded, including Zac Gallen, Eugenio Suarez, Josh Naylor, Shelby Miller, Jalen Beeks, and Randal Grichuk. Management’s decisions over the next few weeks will shape the team’s direction not only for this season but also for the future.
Merrill Kelly’s Perspective on Trade Talk and Team Atmosphere
Before a recent game against the Houston Astros, Kelly shared candid thoughts about the buzz surrounding the trade deadline and how it affects the team environment. He emphasized that there is no panic inside the clubhouse despite the outside speculation and pressure.
“But I think once the game starts, I get a sense we’re doing a pretty good job of blocking all that out and just going out and doing our job.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
He also acknowledged the difficulty players face in tuning out rumors, especially with social media dominated by trade chatter.
“I would say impossible, right? I mean, anytime you hop on Twitter, anytime you hop on Instagram, anytime you hop on any social media baseball related at all, it’s pretty much all trades.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“It’s kind of funny the way with social media, I think the trade deadline takes on some sort of a doomsday persona. I think the way we talk about it is like the season ends in eight days, and that’s obviously not the case. There’s a lot of baseball to be played.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Handling Trade Deadline Pressure Personally and as a Team
Kelly described his personal experience with trade rumors as a unique challenge this season, noting that his focus remains on performance rather than distractions.
“It’s been an interesting concept for me, just being a part of it more than I think I ever have been. But at the end of the day, you gotta just go out and try to ignore it as best you can. The only thing you can really control is what we do between the lines.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
He highlighted the strong camaraderie among teammates, which fosters motivation despite uncertainty about player movement.
“I think we’re doing a good job of trying to play for each other. Obviously, nobody wants anybody to get traded. Fortunately, we all like each other in here. We have a pretty good clubhouse, so we’re trying, I think, to play for each other so that we don’t have to treat the trade deadlines as apocalyptic.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“I mean, obviously, I think this team can win. I want to win with this team. That’s my main priority right now.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Kelly’s Thoughts on Possible Trade and Loyalty to Arizona
When asked about the possibility of being traded, Kelly expressed understanding and openness to whichever outcome helps him compete for a championship.
“Extremely, I wouldn’t harbor any type of hard feelings if I got traded. At this point in my career, my focus is to win. I don’t know how many years I’m still gonna be doing this after this year. So that’s my priority.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“And if it were to a team that is in the hunt and had a good chance to make the playoffs and make a run at the World Series, I think that would be a lot of fun at this point in my career. That being said, I’ve always wanted to be here.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“I still want be here. If I don’t get traded, I’m definitely not gonna be mad about it. But if I do, yeah, there’s always a possibility that I would come back here.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“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. Regardless of what happens after the 31st, being here is never off the table.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Kelly also recognized the potential benefit for the team if they trade him, suggesting that acquisitions made using returned assets could improve Arizona’s future competitiveness.
“If that were to happen, I would hope in the offseason that they do, just like I hope every front office does every offseason, is try to improve the team. And we’ll take a look at that when it’s all set up. We still got a lot of baseball to play before then and now.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
What Drives Merrill Kelly’s Progression as a Pitcher
Reflecting on his ongoing development, Kelly credited his longevity and accumulated experience as essential factors for his growth. This season marks his seventh in the major leagues and his fifteenth as a professional player.
“I think just experience means a lot. It’s the seventh year in the big leagues. It’s my 15th professional season. The longer you play the more experience you gain. The more times you fail, the more times you learn.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“Taking all of that into being able to filter through some of the knowledge that we get, whether it’s scouting reports or the homework that I do on hitters, that combination of things has allowed me to be more confident going into each and every game.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“It goes back a lot more on experience than just the scouting. I’ve faced Manny Machado. I’ve faced any superstar that you wanna say in the game, I’ve faced them, right? Once you get past the stardom that you see as a younger player, you realize they wear big league uniforms, just like you.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
“But once I got past that and really understood that I do belong here and that I can get people out, I think that was a big part of it.”
—Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Merrill Kelly married?
A. Kelly and his wife, Bre, are parents to two kids: Hadley and a baby boy, Hayes, who is five months old. While at the ballpark, Kelly concentrates fully on baseball. However, after the game and a long day, he dedicates all his attention to his family.