Fansided

MLB Trade Deadline: Royals to acquire Ben Zobrist from Athletics

By Kyle Franzoni

Jul 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) high five teammates after being batted in on a two run home run by designated hitter Billy Butler (not pictured) against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) high five teammates after being batted in on a two run home run by designated hitter Billy Butler (not pictured) against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Kansas City Royals continue their build-up for a return to the World Series, adding Ben Zobrist in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

The Major League Baseball trade deadline continues to generate intrigue and excitement for baseball fans. In particular, the fans in Kansas City have to be extremely ecstatic.

Next: 5 teams that could shape the MLB Trade Deadline

Just a few days after picking up Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds, the Kansas City Royals continued their in-season make-over by agreeing to a trade with the Oakland Athletics for super-utility man Ben Zobrist. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was the first to announce a deal had been agreed to while Jon Heyman of CBS Sports was the first to confirm the return package to Oakland.

Zobrist has been highly sought in the days leading up to the trade deadline, with teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels among the teams reportedly interested. Instead, he heads to Kansas City, a team that has undoubtedly signaled their desire to return to the World Series and win it in 2015.

At 34-years-old, Zobrist has had a bit of a down season, hitting .268/.354/.447 with six home runs and 33 RBI for the A’s. However, he’s turned it up in July and increased his value by slashing .292/.366/.444 in 20 games this month.

A free agent after this season, Zobrist is another rental player that the Royals cannot extend a qualifying offer to, making them unable to recoup any draft picks when the player departs for free agency. That makes the cost to acquire him a bit deeper for Kansas City, who gave up pitching prospect Sean Manaea and Aaron Brooks to acquire him. If it leads to a World Series, the cost will be well worth it, but anything short could spell mistake for the Royals.

A first round pick in 2013 (34th overall), Manaea is in his first season in the Royals system and entered the season ranked as the 81st best prospect in the game by Baseball America and #56 by MLB.com. He’s 7-8 with a 3.11 ERA and a 10.8 K/9 ratio, albeit with a 4.0 BB/9 mark.

Brooks was the 9th round selection of the Royals in 2011 and the 25-year-old has seen time in Kansas City in both of the last two seasons, both of which weren’t necessarily pretty results. However, he’s been impressive while pitching in the Pacific Coast League each of the last two seasons, going 12-3 with a 3.88 ERA and a 6.3 K/9 mark in 2014 and having a 6-5 record with a 3.71 ERA and a 7.8 K/9 ratio in 18 games this season.

Next: Baseball's untouchable prospects at the MLB Trade Deadline

More from Kansas City Royals

Home/Kansas City Royals