Royals Acquire Jamey Carroll From The Twins

Jul 24, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Minnesota Twins pinch runner

(8) takes a lead off of first base in the ninth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Angels won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, via twitter, and Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City, also via twitter, the Kansas City Royals acquire veteran infielder Jamey Carroll for the Minnesota Twins for either cash or a player to be named later.

Carrol is a 39-year old with a career .351 On Base Percentage, although number is way down in 2013 – .284. The Royals’ other 39-year old infielder, Miguel Tejada, went on the DL today with a strained right calf muscle.

Carroll offers almost no power and very little speed, and his 2013 stats have shown a considerable drop from their previous levels. His career slash line reads .274/.351/.340/.690; this season it is down to .230/.284/.262/.546. He does not appear to be any long term solution for the void that is second base for the Royals.

It is unclear just how the Royals second base situation plays out. Chris Getz is rehabbing in AAA Omaha and is due to come of the DL on Monday. Elliot Johnson has been better than expected defensively but hasn’t had a hit since July 6th, covering 19 games and 27 plate appearances.

The Royals obviously don’t trust their incredibly long list of second base options in the middle of what has become a playoffs race. Kansas City has a stock pile of infielders including Johnson, Getz, Irving Falu, Johnny Giavotella, Christian Colon, and Pedro Ciriaco.

Like Tejada, Carrol is a proven commodity and offers very little risk. If he butchers the position in the next couple of weeks, or doesn’t hit his weight, he can be cut when Tejada returns in a couple of weeks. If he can recover his plate discipline and provide a solid, veteran presence in the clubhouse and on the field, maybe he and Tejada can share the 2-bag duties upon Tejada’s return, keeping both old bodies fresh down the stretch.

It will be interesting to see what happens as far as corresponding moves will go. Elliot Johnson could be put on waivers or kept as the primary utility infielder, with Falu being sent back down. Falu could be optioned when Getz comes off the DL tomorrow. The options are almost endless.

It would not be surprising if Falu is returned to AAA and Johnson released on Tuesday, with Getz returning to the Royals. Getz would return as the starting second baseman, with Carrol his back-up.

However it turns out, Dayton Moore is trying to maintain a competitive roster now that the Royals have just completed a 3-1 series win against the Boston Red Sox this weekend. The Royals are 18-5 since the All-Star break and have played themselves into a 6-team race for the two wild cards in the American League.