The Kansas City Royals are within striking distance of the last playoff spot in the American League, and they made a move for a familiar face that helped them get to the postseason last season.
KC traded for Adam Frazier, the utility infielder/outfielder who is slashing .255/.318/.336 in 78 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates this season.
The Royals dealt minor-league infielder Cam Devanney to Pittsburgh to complete the deal. Devanney, a 28-year-old whose contract was selected by the Royals last week after Mark Canha went on the injured list, has a .931 OPS with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Royals’ top minor-league affiliate in Omaha.
Why Did The Royals Trade For Adam Frazier?
Though far behind the major-league leading Detroit Tigers in the AL Central standings, Kansas City is just four-and-a-half games back of the Seattle Mariners for the third wild card in the American League.
With both Canha and second baseman Michael Massey on the injured list, and the Royals using 10 players in left field thus far this season, they are looking for continuity and production, and Frazier can provide each.
“Heâs spent the majority of his time on the field at second base, but the Pirates have been using him in the outfield more over the past month or so,” Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote. “Heâll give the Royals a left-handed bat on what had been an all-right-handed bench and also provide manager Matt Quatraro with an option at multiple positions.”
The Royals are 26th in the majors in OPS and are tied for 25th in on-base percentage, which American League-worst 328 runs scored — a mark that is coincidentally only better than the Pirates. According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Frazier can help rectify some of KC’s woes.
“he club has long thought its bench needed a veteran presence to give what the industry likes to call a ‘professional at-bat,’” Rogers wrote. “Working the pitch count, working a walk, poking a single the other way, moving runners over or getting them in from third, etc. — coming in late in games when needed.”
Rogers also cited the Royals’ need to get more experienced.
“The Royals loved Frazier last year, when he logged just 294 plate appearances and hit .202 for the postseason team but provided invaluable leadership with the hitting group,” Rogers wrote. “Several people in and around the organization, including players, had mentioned earlier this year that the clubhouse was missing personalities like Frazier as the team endures its ups and downs during a 162-game season.”
Why Did The Royals Trade Cam Devanney?
Devanney has proven power, since he has 51 homers in 321 games at Triple-A, and moved to No. 10 on FanGraphs’ list of Royals prospects as of late May.
But Devanney is a natural shortstop, which means he is clearly blocked by the face of the franchise Bobby Witt Jr. He spent time at second base, left field and third base this season, but the Royals apparently did not appear interested in pushing the slugger to switch positions since they were willing to trade him.
Devanney was optioned to Triple-A by the Pirates shortly after the deal was announced but reportedly is expected to be called up by the major-league club after veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa is traded.
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