Kansas City Royals: 2018 trade with Brewers did not pan out

The Kansas City Royals made a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers that didn’t go according to plan.

The Kansas City Royals were not in contention when the 2018 trade deadline rolled around, so it was only fitting that they were sellers. They gave their former first round pick Mike Moustakas a chance to play for a contender, shipping him off to Milwaukee in exchange for Jorge Lopez and Brett Phillips.

Reading those names, fans now realize that this trade did not go the way that Royals fans had hoped, as both Lopez and Phillips are no longer members of the Royals. When the team acquired them, the hope was that Lopez could become a dependable member of the rotation and that Phillips could be a future star in the outfield.

Instead, it’s been a little over two years and neither guy is a member of the Kansas City Royals.

Lopez started seven games for the Royals in 2018 and had an ERA of 6.33, but many wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he could do in a full season. Royals fans got to see that in 2019 and the end result wasn’t pretty, as Lopez appeared in 39 games (starting 18), throwing 123.2 innings of work and finishing the year with an 8.38 ERA.

He was lit up during summer camp and his limited outings for the Royals weren’t much better. He had a 27.00 ERA before the Royals designated him for assignment, but he was scooped up by the Orioles, where he hasn’t fared much better.

Jorge Lopez had more than enough chances to prove himself in Kansas City, but that wasn’t the case for Brett Phillips. There was never really a place for Phillips on this roster, as the team had too many outfielders and not enough playing time for all of them. He was slashing .226/.294/.387 with just one home run and two RBI in 31 at bats.

Most people will remember Phillips this year for him not catching the ball in extra innings against the Reds earlier this season that allowed Cincinnati to win that game. Phillips took a lot of heat for  that misplay and while I doubt that’s why he was traded, it did bring to light that he probably doesn’t have a future with this organization.

With some promising prospects in their farm system, trading Phillips was a good decision and in exchange, the Royals received Lucius Fox, a speedy shortstop who plays the kind of ball this team likes to play.

While this trade with the Brewers didn’t pan out for the Kansas City Royals, it was looked at as a decent one at the time because of what both prospects offered. Lopez couldn’t hack it as a starter or a reliever and there wasn’t a place for Phillips.

Milwaukee didn’t necessarily win the deal either though even though Moose did have some big moments in the playoffs that year, re-signed in 2019, but then moved on to the Reds this year.

Some trades don’t work out and this deal with the Brewers two years ago was proof of that.