Diamondbacks Ink Veteran Pitcher Casey Kelly to Minor League Contract

The Arizona Diamondbacks have added depth to their pitching roster by signing right-hander Casey Kelly to a minor league deal, as confirmed by the transactions log on his MLB.com profile. Kelly, now 35, brings a wealth of experience to the organization, though his career has been marked by both promise and challenges. Originally a first-round draft pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2008, Kelly quickly established himself as a top-tier talent, earning a spot among baseball’s consensus top-100 prospects before being traded to the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster deal that also included future All-Star Anthony Rizzo in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez.
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Kelly’s MLB journey began with a debut for the Padres in 2012, where he posted a 6.21 ERA over 29 innings across six starts, showing flashes of potential but struggling to find consistency. His trajectory took a significant detour in 2013 when Tommy John surgery sidelined him, delaying his return to the majors. When he finally made it back in 2015, Kelly faced further setbacks, getting roughed up for a 7.94 ERA in just 11 1/3 innings, effectively closing the door on his Padres tenure. Now, with the Diamondbacks, Kelly has a chance to rediscover his form in the minors and potentially work his way back to the big leagues with a team looking to bolster its pitching options.