Free-agent right-hander Merrill Kelly , after being dealt by the Diamondbacks to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline last season, is returning to Arizona on a two-year, $40 million deal, according to multiple reports.

Kelly, 37, went a combined 12-9 with a 3.42 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 32 starts last season.

Kelly is viewed as a grind-it-out innings eater but doesn't boast big raw stuff. His changeup is his best pitch by a wide margin, and he gets by with location and off-speed stuff.

Prior to the trade to the Rangers , Kelly had spent six-plus seasons with Arizona and was a stalwart in the Diamondbacks' run to the 2023 World Series, striking out 28 and posting a 2.25 ERA over 24 innings.

Overall, he is 65-53 with a 3.77 ERA and 911 strikeouts in 1008 1/3 innings over seve

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