Merrill Kelly has profane message for Cubs coach amid sign-stealing controversy

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly has profane message for Cubs coach amid sign-stealing controversy

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Aug 25, 2026 11:54 PM ET

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly has called out Chicago Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry for his alleged “B.S.” behavior.

Kelly appeared to be tipping his pitches during his start Monday against the Cubs, with Berry being the one relaying signs to Chicago’s batters. Players and coaches from both sides of the diamond exchanged words throughout the contest at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kelly and Berry had the most animated exchange of the night right after the D-Backs starter was taken off the mound in the top of the sixth inning.

The Cubs won 7-0, giving Kelly another reason to feel salty about the night as he spoke to reporters afterward.

The Arizona Diamondbacks dugout started screaming towards the Chicago Cubs dugout after they thought the Cubs third base coach Quintin Berry was trying to look into Merrill Kelly’s glove to figure out what pitch he was throwing.

Kelly stared down the third base coach which led… pic.twitter.com/rxayaae1ps
— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) August 25, 2026

“Stealing signs is as old as baseball,” Kelly said, via MLB.com’s Aiden Stepansky. “I think it’s a little bulls–t if it comes from a coach.”

“I think if it’s a guy on second base and they see the grip in your glove, or if the hitters can see something that you’re doing with your glove, I think that’s fair game. Guys have been doing that since the beginning of baseball. I think it’s a little bush league if it comes outside of that.”

While Kelly didn’t approve of Berry’s “bush league” behavior, the Cubs coach appeared to remain within his allotted third-base box throughout the game. Berry was innocent by the letter of the law, but not in the eyes of Kelly and the Diamondbacks’ coaching staff.

The Diamondbacks acknowledged that pitcher Merrill Kelly was tipping his pitches that was alertly picked up by Cubs 3B coach Quintin Berry. Berry’s actions were perfectly legal since he stayed in the coaches box.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 25, 2026

Arizona was the one breaking a supposed unwritten rule earlier this month, when first baseman Tim Tawa tried to break up an opposing pitcher’s perfect game.

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