"Tests thus far have fortunately not revealed any major issues in his back, but doctors are still working to ascertain what's hobbling him. Piecoro adds that Kelly played catch today but still felt pain in his back while doing so."
"If the D-backs feel Kelly only needs to be pushed back a few days or skip one start, it's possible he could avoid a trip to the 15-day IL, but obviously today's comments firmly put an IL stint on the table as a possibility."
"The Diamondbacks entered the offseason looking to scale back payroll but still managed to find common ground with Kelly, making a two-year offer worth $40MM that sold the righty on heading back to the desert."
Merrill Kelly, a 37-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, has been dealing with back discomfort that has sidelined him from Opening Day preparations. Multiple medical tests have not revealed any major structural issues, but doctors continue investigating the root cause. Kelly experienced pain during catch sessions, indicating the problem persists. The team may avoid placing him on the 15-day injured list if he only needs a few days rest, but an IL stint remains possible. If Kelly cannot start the season, Arizona will begin with Gallen, Nelson, Rodriguez, Pfaadt, and Soroka in the rotation. Kelly signed a two-year, $40 million deal to return to the Diamondbacks after being traded to Texas mid-season.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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