The shoe finally dropped minutes before the deadline
John Gambadoro was first with the news, sending one of the D-backs’ longest-serving pitchers to the Texas Rangers. Jeff Passan subsequently confirmed the news. Kelly signed with Arizona before the 2019 season, after a period spent pitching in Korea, and has been a mainstay of the team’s rotation since. Indeed, there’s a case to be made that he is one of the better pitchers in the league, not to have been an All-Star. Kelly made 162 appearances in his time with the Diamondbacks, going 62-50 with a 3.74 ERA (114 ERA+). That currently puts him third on the franchise list for starts and victories, though it’s possible Zac Gallen might pass him in both categories by season end, depending on… Well, y’know.
As yet, we don’t know what the return for Kelly will be, but we should hear pretty soon what’s coming back from the Rangers, and will update this ASAP.
Update. The D-backs are getting back a trio of pitching prospects, according to various reports. The names are LHP Kohl Drake (the Rangers #5 prospect), RHP David Hagaman (#13) and LHP Mitch Bratt (#9). Here’s what MLB Pipeline had to say about each.
Kohl Drake: Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50. Though Drake had a track record of providing strikes, improved core strength, balance and athleticism helped him upgrade his control even more. His combination of size and a short arm action provides some deception, as does his flat approach angle. If he can continue to get more advanced hitters to chase his curveball and changeup, he could make it as a No. 4 starter.
Mitch Bratt: Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60 | Overall: 45. Bratt’s athletic delivery features little effort and allows him to provide constant strikes. He can move his pitches around the zone and can read hitters’ swings to determine how to get them out. His craftiness and mound presence stand out more than his pure stuff, giving him a high floor as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
David Hagaman: Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45. An athletic mover with a 6-foot-4 frame and loose arm, Hagaman gets down the mound well and creates plenty of extension. To make it as a starter, he’ll have to improve his control after battling the strike zone in college and in summer ball. He’ll also have to prove that he can hold up and maintain his stuff while handling a rotation workload.