Merrill

Kelly

Kelly paused his throwing program in late February after experiencing back tightness but an MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage. The 37-year-old veteran is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but he should be ready to make his season debut in early April.

Kelly received a cortisone injection in his back last week, and he’s able to throw from (almost) the distance of the mound to the plate. The 37-year-old is still likely to oepn the year on the injured list, but it sounds like the potential for a short stay.

Kelly received a cortisone injection and lidocaine in his back last week and was able to play catch on Sunday without any issue. It still seems more likely that he’ll open the season on the injured list as the Diamondbacks won’t want to push him too hard to build up during the spring, but it sounds like if he is shelved to start the season that it won’t be for long.

Kelly had an MRI on his back, and the tests “haven’t revealed any structural issues with his back"; however, he “played catch today and said he is still feeling something in there when he throws.” The fact that Kelly continues to feel pain in his back when he’s throwing is not ideal and makes him a real risk to take in fantasy drafts right now.

Kelly underwent precautionary imaging after being scratched from a scheduled live batting practice session over the weekend due to mid-back tightness. There should be a definitive update regarding the 37-year-old veteran’s status at some point in the coming days. At this point, he remains on track to take the ball on Opening Day.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that his level of concern is minimal after Kelly was scratched from facing hitters in a scheduled live batting practice session. The 37-year-old veteran will undergo some testing out of an abundance of caution to rule out any structural damage. There should be an update on his status at some point next week. He doesn’t appear to be in danger of missing next month’s Opening Day start, even if he temporarily scales back his throwing program.

It’s a tad early for such declarations but fantasy managers will take it. Kelly ostensibly gets the nod for next month’s lid-lifter against the Dodgers over Zac Gallen, who agreed to return to the desert on a one-year pact earlier this weekend. The 37-year-old veteran posted a sparkling 3.52 ERA — 4.15 xERA — 1.11 WHIP and 167/48 K/BB ratio across 184 innings last year between the Diamondbacks and Rangers.

The 2028 option vests at $12 million if he throws 170 innings in 2027 or $14 million if he tops 185 innings. Kelly is getting a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $17 million in 2026 and $21 million in 2027.

The deal is now official. The 37-year-old veteran rejoins the Diamondbacks — where he spent the previous six and a half seasons before being flipped to the Rangers at last season’s trade deadline. His elite command and durability continue to make him a solid mid-rotation option for fantasy purposes.

Kelly returns to fortify Arizona’s rotation mix that also features Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodríguez, Michael Soroka and, eventually, Corbin Burnes once he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old veteran was shipped to the Rangers at the trade deadline after the Diamondbacks fell out of playoff contention and finished last season with a strong 3.52 ERA — 3.76 FIP — and 22.3 percent strikeout rate across 184 innings over 32 starts. His familiarity with the NL West’s unforgiving ballparks is a quiet boost to his fantasy appeal, and his combination of elite control and durability keeps him in the top-60 starter range heading into drafts next spring after eclipsing 27 starts in five of the last six full seasons since 2019.