The Arizona Diamondbacks picked up their club option for Merrill Kelly to return in 2025, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported on Saturday.
Kelly signed a two-year extension in 2022 with a $7 million team option and $1 million buy-out.
The 36-year-old has been a keystone in the rotation since signing with the club ahead of the 2019 season after pitching in Korea, creating a 1-2 punch with Zac Gallen that flourished in 2022-23.
A teres major strain cost Kelly nearly four months on the injured list and limited him to 13 starts in 2024. He finished with a 4.03 ERA but closed the year with a 3.58 ERA in September.
Kelly put together a career year in 2023, not only with a 3.29 ERA in 30 regular season starts but a terrific postseason run in which he started four games with a 2.25 ERA.
In Game 2 of the World Series, Kelly threw seven innings with one earned runs and nine strikeouts in a win over the Texas Rangers. He also had the chance to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Merrill Kelly masterclass. 🔥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/34P9TuiZQ5
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2023
Kelly achieved his goal of crossing the 200-inning mark in 2022.
Through six seasons, Kelly is up to fifth on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard for innings at 824.1, seventh in strikeouts with 744 and sixth in bWAR for pitchers at 13.5.
The only pitchers with more innings pitched for the D-backs are Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Patrick Corbin and Brian Anderson.
Before going pro, Kelly pitched at Desert Mountain High School, Yavapai College and eventually Arizona State in 2010.
Kelly rejoins a starting pitching staff of Gallen, Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt. Jordan Montgomery has a $22.5 million player option that he reportedly picked up.
Kelly and Gallen are both on track to enter free agency after the 2025 season, an inflection point for the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff.
Arizona will hire new pitching coaches after letting go Brent Strom after missing the postseason.