The Kansas Metropolis Royals have been hoping to bolster their outfield forward of the July 31 commerce deadline.
They have been in a position to just do that in a commerce on Saturday. Steve Gilbert from MLB.com reported that the Royals have acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mark Feinsand from MLB.com reported that reduction pitcher Andrew Hoffman will head to Arizona in alternate for Grichuk.
The Royals desperately wanted assist in their outfield. Royals outfielders had been the worst within the majors, posting an atrocious .219/.273/.328 batting line with simply 19 house runs coming into Saturday’s motion.
Though Grichuk is within the midst of a disappointing season himself, he’s an instantaneous improve over regardless of the Royals have despatched into the outfield. Grichuk had posted a .243/.280/.462 batting line in 186 plate appearances coming into Saturday, hitting seven homers and 15 doubles.
In alternate, the Diamondbacks obtain Hoffman, who FanGraphs ranked because the Royals’ Twenty second-best prospect coming into the season. His upper-90s fastball and new kick change are each thought-about plus choices, though his skill to command his arsenal is questionable at finest.
Hoffman’s potential and flaws have been evident this season. He made his main league debut for the Royals, permitting six runs, two earned, on seven hits and 4 walks over 4.2 innings, hanging out 5. Nonetheless, Hoffman had dominated at Triple-A, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.125 WHiP over his 40 innings, hanging out 55 batters with simply 10 walks. He’s one other intriguing addition for a Diamondbacks staff that has prioritized pitching of their two trades up to now.
The identical upside doesn’t exist for the Royals. Kansas Metropolis had the identical file because the Diamondbacks coming into the second recreation of their doubleheader towards the Guardians. Grichuk signed a one-year contract with $5 million assured for 2025. There’s a mutual choice price $5 million, with a $3 million buyout, for 2026.
Theoretically, Grichuk might be a part of the Royals’ plans subsequent season. Nonetheless, mutual choices are not often picked up. Because the Royals are presently beneath .500 and must cross 4 groups within the standings to grab the ultimate wild-card spot, including a rental choice doesn’t make sense. It’s attainable that either side can work out an association for 2026, however until that occurs, the Royals’ newest transfer is questionable at finest.
