KC Royals’ Trade Deadline Decision Already Sparking Regret in the Front Office.
The 2024 trade deadline was a pivotal moment for the Kansas City Royals, marking the first time in nearly a decade that the team was a buyer. With the AL Central division title still within their grasp, the Royals made bold moves to strengthen their roster. However, one of their most high-profile acquisitions, which came at the cost of promising prospects, is already causing the front office to second-guess their decisions.
Former KC Royals Prospect Will Klein Thrives in New Opportunity with Athletics
Will Klein, once a prized prospect for the Royals and a former Futures Game pitcher, was one of three players traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for reliever Lucas Erceg. While pitcher Mason Barnett and outfielder Jared Dickey were assigned to different minor league teams, Klein immediately joined Oakland’s bullpen. Although he has yet to replace Erceg as the team’s go-to reliever, his early performances show promise.
In just two appearances through August 13, Klein has pitched 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. With one strikeout and one walk, he hasn’t allowed a single hit. While it’s too soon to declare Klein the future anchor of Oakland’s bullpen, his efficient 16-pitch outing over four outs has already piqued the interest of A’s fans and management.
“The Royals brought him up [to the big leagues] this season, but he never really had the full opportunity to go through that development process,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay told MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos. “They’re obviously winning a lot of games and had guys in the back end of their bullpen that they believed in. This is a chance for Klein to come in here and continue his progression.”
A Fresh Start for Klein in Oakland’s Bullpen
Klein’s move to Oakland represents a sink-or-swim opportunity for the young pitcher. While he’s been used in low-pressure situations so far, this new environment offers the perfect proving ground for the hard-throwing right-hander.
“Sometimes, I haven’t thrown a lot of strikes in the past,” Klein admitted. “But this is a new day and a new step in my career. I’m going out there with an attacking mentality. It’s all about confidence. If you’re afraid and get tentative with your pitches, you’re going to miss bigger and lose confidence in the zone. Here, it’s just, ‘Go get him.’ Throw it right through their bats and get ahead.”
As Klein continues to make the most of his fresh start with the Athletics, the Royals are left wondering if they made the right move. Only time will tell if this trade will pay off in the long run, but for now, the Royals’ decision to part with Klein is already under scrutiny.
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