Rangers Pull Off Deadline Masterclass—Even MLB Insiders Are Applauding

The Texas Rangers entered the MLB trade deadline with a clear set of objectives.

After catching fire in July and transforming from likely sellers to definite buyers, they aimed to strengthen their roster for a playoff push.

Given the team’s offensive inconsistency throughout the season, many expected them to seek out a bat. They also had a glaring need at the back of the bullpen, having struggled to close games consistently. Their former closer, Luke Jackson, was recently let go and picked up by the Detroit Tigers.

While they didn’t end up making any additions to their lineup, the Rangers did bolster their pitching staff.

Though they didn’t land a top-tier closer, they added bullpen depth with lefty Danny Coulombe and righty Phil Maton—moves that should help stabilize the relief corps.

However, the move that stood out most to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden was the last-minute trade for veteran starter Merrill Kelly.

Texas acquired Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks just before the deadline, sending three pitching prospects—Drake Kohl, Mitch Bratt, and David Hagaman—ranked 5th, 9th, and 13th in their system, respectively, in return. While it was a steep price for a potential rental, Bowden still praised the move, calling Kelly the second-best starter traded after Shane Bieber (who went to Toronto).

“Landing Kelly was a shrewd last-minute acquisition by the Rangers,” Bowden wrote.

Kelly has been one of MLB’s most reliable starters in recent years, posting a 3.39 ERA since 2022 across 99 starts and 586 innings. In that time, he’s struck out 554, walked just 187, allowed only 1.0 home run per nine innings, and recorded a 3.74 FIP and 124 ERA+. His bWAR over that span sits at 12.2.

In his Rangers debut, Kelly lived up to his reputation—throwing 5.2 innings of two-run ball, giving up four hits, striking out six, and walking none.