Texas Rangers Strike: Deadline Deals for Merrill Kelly, Phil Maton & Danny Coulombe
As the MLB trade deadline passed on July 31, 2025, the Texas Rangers made calculated moves to reinforce their rotation and bullpen, cementing their position in the arne slot liverpool tight AL Wild Card race. Check out the full breakdown:
🔁 Merrill Kelly to Texas
The Rangers acquired veteran starter Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up three top pitching prospects—Kohl Drake (LHP, No. 5), Mitch Bratt (LHP, No. 9), and David Hagaman (RHP, No. 13)—in return. Kelly, 36, delivered a 3.22 ERA with 121 strikeouts over 128⅔ innings in 2025 and adds stability behind Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.
🧷 Phil Maton Adds Bullpen Depth
Texas also added veteran right-hander Phil Maton from the St. Louis Cardinals. In exchange, they parted with minor-league pitchers Skylar Hales and Mason Molina, plus international signing bonus money. Maton brings a 2.35 ERA over 38⅓ innings in 2025—an experienced arm with high-leverage upside.
⚙️ Danny Coulombe Joins the Pen
Rounding out the deadline, the Rangers acquired lecce vs juventus lefty reliever Danny Coulombe from the Minnesota Twins, sending minor league LHP Garrett Horn in return. He provides southpaw flexibility to a bullpen that had been taxed all season.
🧭 Strategic Meaning
Texas entered the deadline tied for the final AL Wild Card spot at 57–52 and in need of reinforcements. Rather than selling key veterans like Adolis Garcia, the novak djokovic Rangers leaned into a buy-and-hold approach—adding experienced arms without mortgaging their high-upside talent.
