Royals' head-scratching trade indicates lack of direction

In a somewhat head-scratching move just before the trade deadline, the Royals shipped an everyday lineup piece to the Braves in a one-for-one swap that brought left-handed pitcher Taylor Hearn to Kansas City. 

Nicky Lopez is amid an underwhelming season on the sticks for the Royals, batting just .210/.322/.280 over 187  plate appearances. However, it’s his glove, as well as his multi-positional utility, that the 28-year-old is best known for. He’s played at five positions in the field already this year and has delivered exceptional glovework. 

Hearn is a 28-year-old who’s better as a reliever than a starter. The Braves got the southpaw last Monday after the Rangers designated him for assignment. He only made one appearance for Atlanta, in which he allowed four runs in one-third of an inning.

The trade continues to solidify the fact that the Royals are completely without any sense of direction for a potential rebuild. The 2015 World Series champs haven’t been over .500 since their title run, but don’t have a strong farm system to show for it. 

It seemed that the Royals were beginning to develop a rebuild strategy when they sent closer Aroldis Chapman, who the team had signed before this season, to the Rangers in exchange for a solid arm in Cole Ragans and a 17-year-old outfielder, Roni Cabrera. However, the trade of Lopez certainly doesn’t help their efforts. 

Royals beat writer Anne Rogers said it best in her piece on the trade:

“The Braves acquired [Hearn] on Monday for cash after the Rangers designated him for assignment; the Royals did have a chance to acquire him then, but they passed on that opportunity.”