Kansas City Royals
CHICAGO, Ill.-The Kansas City Royals announced Tuesday that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Lucas Erceg from the Oakland Athletics for right-handed pitchers Mason Barnett and Will Klein, and outfielder Jared Dickey.
Erceg (urr-seg), 29, has appeared in 38 games for the Athletics this season, going 2-3 with 3 saves and a 3.68 ERA (15 ER in 36.2 IP), 41 strikeouts (26.3 K%, 10.1 K/9) and just 13 walks (8.3 BB%, 3.2 BB/9). He has held opponents to a .133 batting average (4-for-30) with runners in scoring position, and since June 21, 12 of his 13 appearances have been scoreless. He features a four-pitch repertoire that includes a 4-seam fastball that averages 98.5 mph, which ranks as the 8th-fastest heater in the Majors and 4th in the American League (min. 500 pitches) per Baseball Savant.
Erceg made his Major League debut with the A’s last year, going 4-4 with a 4.75 ERA (29 ER in 55.0 IP) with 68 strikeouts (27.1 K%, 11.1 K/9) and just 1 home run allowed.
Royals also announced on Tuesday that they have acquired infielder Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox for right-handed pitcher Jarold Rosado. To make room on Kansas City’s 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher John McMillon has been designated for assignment.DeJong (duh-yung), who turns 31 on Friday, has hit 18 home runs in 102 games for the White Sox this season, including 15 homers in 89 games at shortstop, ranking him 4th in the American League.