After loss, Merrill Kelly reflects on future with DBacks as trade deadline nears

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4 days ago

PITTSBURGH — If this were his last start with the Diamondbacks, right-hander Merrill Kelly wasn't about to close the door forever.
Having already seen two of his teammates shipped out in the past three days, Kelly knows there is at least a decent chance he will be dealt, too, sometime before the July 31 trade deadline. But if that were to happen, Kelly, an impending free agent, sounded fully open to reuniting with the club in the offseason.
'There's definitely been thoughts all day that this one could be the last one in a DBacks uniform — at least for now,' Kelly said after giving up two runs (one earned) in 6⅔ innings of a 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, July 26, at PNC Park.
'I'm never going to rule out that this is the last one ever, just with how much this team means to me and how much home and the Valley mean to me and my family.'
It was, to say the least, a memorable evening. During the bottom of the fourth, trainer Ryan DiPanfilo tapped Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo on the shoulder. DiPanfilo had received word that outfielder Randal Grichuk had been traded and that Grichuk should be removed from the game at the end of the half-inning.
When the inning ended, Lovullo pulled Grichuk down the tunnel. Moments later, Grichuk was back in the dugout, exchanging hugs and saying his goodbyes. Kelly was among those to wish him well.
Later in the evening, after he had been removed, Kelly remained in the dugout until the end of the game. Sometimes, he says, he will do that when he pitches into the late innings, making his arm-care routine a postgame chore rather than doing it while the game is ongoing.
But he admitted there were sentimental reasons he stuck around so long.
'I think those thoughts are going to be inevitable,' he said. 'We all know the deadline is in four days now.'
Six and a half years ago, the Diamondbacks signed Kelly, then 30, to his first major-league deal. He had spent the previous four years pitching in South Korea, honing his craft, and the Diamondbacks were one of the first teams to contact him once he officially hit free agency. He signed with them within just a few days.
Over the past seven seasons, he has been a mainstay in the club's rotation, logging a career 3.74 ERA in 953 innings and playing a pivotal role in the team's World Series run in 2023.
Kelly went to high school in Scottsdale at Desert Mountain. He played at Arizona State. Arizona remains home for him.
Kelly and his agent have made it clear to general manager Mike Hazen he would be interested in rejoining the Diamondbacks even if he were to be traded.
'These guys know where I stand on being a Diamondback,' Kelly said. 'Obviously, I understand the nature of the beast and the business aspect of it. The idea of — if I do get traded and if I do go somewhere — playing for a team that's contending right now and has a good chance of going to the playoffs and going to the World Series, at this point in my career, I'm open to that, of course. I don't know how many more years I have left. Hopefully, enough. At this point in my career, I think anything can happen, so the chance to win is obviously in the forefront of my mind.
'That all being said, I love being here. I have always loved being here. I would always be open to being a snake moving forward.'
Brandyn Garcia added to roster
PITTSBURGH — The Diamondbacks recalled newly acquired left-hander Brandyn Garcia on Saturday, July 26, making room for him on the roster by designating right-hander Trevor Richards for assignment.
Garcia, 25, was acquired from the Seattle Mariners two days ago as part of the return for first baseman Josh Naylor. He made his major league debut on Monday, July 21, and was traded to the Diamondbacks three days later.
"It's been fun," Garcia said. "That's the best way I would describe it. Debuting on Monday, throwing on Monday, throwing on Wednesday, then figuring out getting traded. It's been a lot. But it's been fun. A good experience."
Garcia has a fastball that averages around 97 mph, along with a slider and a sweeper. A starter before this season, he said he has enjoyed transitioning into relief work.
"It's been different," he said. "A different schedule, everything like that. But it's nothing crazy. Nothing too big that I couldn't handle. I honestly like it a little bit better. I get to go out there and throw as hard as I can for one inning. It's been good."
Del Castillo doing work at first base
For at least the third time in the past week, catcher Adrian Del Castillo was taking ground balls on the infield on Saturday, July 26.
The club is taking a look at how Del Castillo might handle first base, though there are no immediate plans for him to see time there.
'I feel fine,' Del Castillo said. 'A little bit awkward. But that's normal. I haven't caught grounders in quite a long time.'
Del Castillo said he occasionally would take grounders in the minors on days he wasn't starting behind the plate. His most recent experience on the infield came during his college days at Miami when he played briefly at third base.
He downplayed the idea that he was in the process of changing positions, but he said if the club wanted him to play first he would be fine with it.
'I'm all for it,' he said. 'I'm all for anything as long as it gets me on the field playing.'
Alek Thomas expected back for series finale
Center fielder Alek Thomas is expected to return from the bereavement list ahead of the game on Sunday, July 27, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Thomas will miss the first two games of the Pirates series following a death in the family.
In other news, right-hander Shelby Miller threw a bullpen session and lefty Jalen Beeks threw a live session on July 27. Miller seems to have moved past the back issues that had bothered him in recent days, Lovullo said.
Lovullo said first baseman Pavin Smith hit off a tee on July 27 as he progresses from an oblique strain.
Coming up
July 27: At Pittsburgh, 10:35 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (7-11, 5.58) vs. Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (5-8, 1.91).
July 28: At Detroit, 3:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-6, 5.50) vs. Tigers RHP Casey Mize (9-4, 3.40).
July 29: At Detroit, 3:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (10-6, 4.76) vs. Tigers RHP Troy Melton (0-1, 10.80).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks at Pirates: Game underway after delay