Royals Cement Status as Contenders With Surprising Trade For Veteran Reliever
By Joe Summers
The Royals' fantastic offseason continued Saturday when the club acquired veteran right-handed reliever John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox for promising pitching prospect David Sandlin.
Schreiber is a dependable addition to a suddenly exciting pitching staff, posting a 3.86 ERA in 46 appearances last year after compiling a 2.22 ERA in 64 games in 2022.
After fielding one of the worst bullpens in MLB history last season, the Royals front office has made it clear the organization intends to compete for the AL Central crown as debates rage about the new stadium ownership hopes to build in the Crossroads District in downtown Kansas City.
KC Royals Trade News: Club Acquires RHP John Schreiber from Boston Red Sox
Trade news: The Kansas City Royals are acquiring right-handed reliever John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox for minor league right-hander David Sandlin, sources tell ESPN. Royals get an arm for a pen that needed it, Sox get a pitching prospect with strikeout stuff.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 17, 2024
Schreiber's addition is the latest continuation of an impressive string of moves and should help raise the floor of this bullpen. He ranked in the 74th percentile in expected batting average and in the 71st in strikeout percentage in 2023 primarily utilizing a slider, fastball and sinker with an occasional changeup thrown in.
The club will have three years of control with Schreiber, who spent two seasons with the Tigers before going to the Red Sox for the previous three.
The #Royals have filled out their bullpen. Schreiber has not only been good the last two years, he’s got years of control.
— Jack Johnson (@JohnyJ_15) February 17, 2024
2.90 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 over his last three years. pic.twitter.com/QyasH5Dr4T
It hurts to lose Sandlin, a 22-year-old potential future starter, but it's obvious the Royals want to start winning right now. The lineup should continue to improve after multiple offseason additions and expected growth from players like Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia, though the bullpen was the single biggest issue with the 2023 team.
Now that the organization has addressed the bullpen, fan excitement should be high. The AL Central is one of the worst divisions in baseball and this team is built to make a run.
It's an exciting time in Kansas City. We've seen championship football and we might be closer than we think to championship baseball once again.
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