The Texas Rangers added to their starting rotation by acquiring veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks before Thursday’s trade deadline, according to multiple reports.Arizona received three prospects — left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt and right-hander David Hagaman — for the 36-year-old Kelly.Kelly is 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts this season. He has struck out 121 in 128 2/3 innings.Kelly joins a strong Texas rotation led by right-handers Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.The Rangers, including manager Bruce Bochy, surely got a good look at Kelly during the 2023 World Series.Texas prevailed in five games but Arizona’s lone win came during Kelly’s one start. He bottled up a hot Texas lineup for one run and three hits over seven innings and he struck out nine without a walk.Kelly went 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 24 innings over four starts during the 2023 postseason.
