*Photo from the New York Times*
Who says trade season can't start a little early? The Kansas City Royals have acquired RHP Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals in exchange for INF Cayden Wallace and a competitive balance round draft pick, according to both teams.
Harvey comes with an additional year of team control beyond 2024, not scheduled to be a free agent until after the 2025 season ends. Harvey recorded 10 saves last season for the Nationals but is primarily a setup man, having served in that role for closer Kyle Finnegan this season.
Royals GM JJ Picollo said of the trade "It’s no secret we were trying to upgrade our bullpen and to get some depth in the back end of the bullpen. Hunter Harvey is a guy we’ve admired for a number of years. I’d like to think we have a better bullpen today than we had earlier going into the game, and we’re excited to get Hunter in a Royals uniform."
So far this season, Harvey has been well used in relief by the Nationals. He has a 4.20 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP to his name, averaging 10 strikeouts per 9 innings while allowing only 4 home runs in 45 innings pitched, making 43 relief appearances.
The move to get Harvey is a necessary addition to a Royals bullpen that needs some help. Royals relievers rank 29th in strikeouts per 9 and 24th in total production. Angel Zerpa is the only reliever in their bullpen with an ERA under 4.00 as the team sits two games out of the final AL Wild Card spot, a stunning turnaround from a 106 loss season a year ago.
Draft picks are normally not allowed to be traded, with competitive balance draft picks being the only picks teams are allowed to trade. One a team acquires one in a trade, they cannot trade it again. The Royals have traded a competitive balance draft pick twice in 3 seasons, having dealt one to the Braves in 2022.
Wallace, the prospect the Nationals get in return, was ranked as the number two prospect in the Royals system according to MLB Pipeline. Between the ACL Royals and Double A Northwest Arkansas, Wallace has a .280/.348/.406 slash line with 9 doubles, 3 home runs, and 18 RBI's in 41 games this year.
As day one of the MLB draft starts Sunday night, the Nationals now have 3 draft picks at their disposal. They pick first at 10th overall, then they'll use the pick they got from the Royals at 39, then have their own at 44th.
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