Kansas City Royals: Five more trade scenarios for 2019
By Cullen Jekel
By making this deal, the Milwaukee Brewers would add another two players from Kansas City to a team looking to topple the Chicago Cubs in the bizarre National League Central. Of course, catcher Martin Maldonado and outfielder Billy Hamilton aren’t nearly as valuable as are current Brewers Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas.
Still, by making this deal, the Brewers land an upgrade at back-up catcher, going from Manny Pina to Maldonado. While neither Pina nor Maldonado are exactly competent in the batter’s box, Maldonado’s numbers are better. He’s slashing .226/.292/.352 with a .645 OPS and 71 OPS+ to Pina’s .165/.275/.342, .616 OPS and 59 OPS+.
Milwaukee also adds a speedy outfielder in Hamilton, something the team lacks presently lacks. Despite having one of the best starting outfields in the game, depth from left to right is a concern outside of Ben Gamel.
Hamilton would be an ideal fourth outfielder: capable of playing all three spots, and he would be a potent weapon as a pinch runner. His 16 stolen bases would rank second on the Brewers behind only reigning MVP Christian Yelich’s 19.
Coming to the Kansas City Royals organization would be two prospects who haven’t exactly set the minors on fire. The first is first baseman Jake Gatewood, a 23-year-old currently only hitting .172 in Double-A. Still, MLB Pipeline ranks Gatewood as Milwaukee’s number 28 prospect, grading him with a 55 power, 60 arm, and 50 fielding.
The second prospect is outfielder Je’Von Ward, a 6-foot-5 19-year-old outfielder that MLB Pipeline ranks as the Brewers’ number 23 prospect. Ward, drafted in the 12th round in the 2017 Draft, is currently in his first full season of Single-A ball with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
His power has really yet to develop as he has only three professional career home runs, but he figures to turn into an outfielder with speed.
Other Options:
- The Philadelphia Phillies could also use both Maldonado and Hamilton. They have at their disposable right-hander Connor Seabold, a 23-year-old reliever currently in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie Ball), and 23-year-old catcher Deivy Grullon currently in Triple-A.
- If the Texas Rangers make a smaller push, and the Royals are okay acquiring a pitcher with a history of Tommy John surgery, a swap of Maldonado for left-handed pitcher Yohander Mendez, 24, could be a match.