The Boston Red Sox have been quiet ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. An afternoon rumor that they were coveting Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly broke through their silence.
But Craig Breslow couldn't get the job done. The Texas Rangers traded for Kelly as the Red Sox simultaneously negotiated for a trade, first reported by MLB insider Jeff Passan. Texas will send three minor leaguers to Arizona for possibly the best rental pitcher on the market, a package the Red Sox should have been able to match or exceed.
Breslow and the Red Sox initially hoped to sign a pitcher with multiple years of control on their contract, but the asking prices on starters have been higher than they're willing to go. Still, Boston hasn't made the playoffs in the last three seasons, and the front office should be more committed to competing in the second half than it has shown so far.
Kelly was arguably the best rental starter on the market ahead of the deadline. He's posted a 3.22 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, 121 strikeouts and 38 walks over 128.2 innings this season. If he maintains this pace, 2025 could be his best full season of work yet — he posted a 2.59 ERA during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, and a 3.29 ERA in 177.2 innings in 2023.
Rangers outbid Red Sox for Diamondbacks rental starter Merrill Kelly
BREAKING: The Texas Rangers are acquiring right-hander Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
Had the Red Sox won the bidding war for Kelly's services, he would've easily slotted into the No. 2 slot in their rotation. Brayan Bello has a similar 3.19 ERA, but Kelly has pitched more innings and throws strikes at a higher clip.
Instead of Kelly, the Red Sox landed Dustin May from the Dodgers. May is in his first year back in the big leagues after he underwent Tommy John and esophagus surgeries in 2023-24. He's posted a 4.85 ERA with 97 strikeouts and 43 walks in 104 innings pitched for LA this season.