On Tuesday afternoon, Oakland Athletics RHP Lucas Erceg is dealt to the Kansas City Royals. Erceg, a 29-year-old reliever, is in his second season in the majors. For the A’s, they will receive Will Klein, Mason Barnett, and Jared Dickey. The Athletics are in no rush to be buyers, as they sit in second-to-last place in the American League. The Royals sit in the final wild-card spot and are a game back of the second-place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
No big deal just Lucas Erceg’s striking out Aaron Judge ?pic.twitter.com/XRHaa02EWs
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) July 30, 2024
Kansas City Royals Spotlight After Acquiring Lucas Erceg
The Royals look to make a playoff push and land back in the postseason for the first time since 2015 when they won the World Series. Since 2015, the Royals have not finished above .500, but the current 2024 pace looks to break a scary trend. The Royals sit 23rd in the majors for bullpen ERA, and Erceg looks to help the AL Central squad. With the Royals’ struggles in the bullpen, Erceg could be the boost they need. Erceg’s 2024 season boasts a 3.68 ERA and 1.200 WHIP. He creates ground balls and weak contact with a power fastball. Erceg’s fastball is averaging a speedy 98.5 MPH and his change-up reaches 91 MPH. The Royals like him enough to dish out three prospects to get the power righty.
Oakland Athletics Spotlight
The Athletics still sit in the position they have for a couple of seasons– near the bottom of the AL. The A’s sell once again, and Erceg is another piece gone from the Athletics roster. As a team, the A’s bullpen ERA ranks fifth in the majors. Erceg was a key contributor to their bullpen, and the A’s cash-in for three prospects. The Athletics acquire the Royals’ fourth and 18th prospects in Mason Barnett and Will Klein. Both right-handed pitchers are in the farm system with projections of reaching the show in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The Athletics continue their rebuild with this key trade in a seller’s market and hope to generate a good group of players heading into its move to Las Vegas.
More Trade Deadline Coverage
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- Baltimore Adds Trevor Rogers from Miami to Boost Starting Rotation
- Red Sox Acquire Righty Reliever Lucas Sims from Reds
- Yankees Strengthen Bullpen with Addition of Mark Leiter Jr
- Pirates Acquire Josh Walker From Mets
- Houston Astros Land Yusei Kikuchi in Deal with Blue Jays
- Jorge Soler, Luke Jackson Traded Back to Atlanta in Deadline Deal
- Rockies Trade Jalen Beeks to Pirates for Pitching Prospect
- Mariners Acquire Justin Turner in Trade with Blue Jays
- Orioles Rumors at the Deadline
- Pirates Acquire Infielder Nick Yorke from Red Sox
- Rangers Trade Michael Lorenzen to Royals
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