Mike Mayers is going from one American League Central club to another.
The Kansas City Royals agreed to trade the veteran reliever to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations, the Royals announced Wednesday afternoon. Mayers will be playing for his third team in the last 10 months, which is quite the departure from his stretch of two teams in the seven years prior that point.
In his lone season as a member of the Royals, Mayers owned a 6.15 ERA and a 1-2 record with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks. Mayers pitched a total of 26.1 innings across six appearances, making two starts.
Mayers is eligible to become a free agent following the 2024 season.
Mayers first reached the majors in 2016, debuting for the St. Louis Cardinals at 24 years old. The right-hander tossed just 5.1 innings that season, followed by 4.2 in 2017, but he became a much more consistent member of the bullpen rotation in 2018.
In his first full MLB season, Mayers tossed 51.2 innings, recording 49 strikeouts and 15 walks with a 4.70 ERA. Mayers, who finished out 15 games for St. Louis, put up six holds and one save.
The 2019 campaign was not as friendly to Mayers, with a strained left lat holding him out from April 17 until July 23. Mayers was eventually designated for assignment, sent down to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, then recalled to the majors as part of September roster expansion.
The Los Angeles Angels picked Mayers up off of waivers in 2020, and he immediately made an impact out west.
Mayers went 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA across 30.0 innings in the COVID-shortened season, then he returned to post a 5-5 record and 3.84 ERA in 75.0 innings in 2021. Between those two seasons, Mayers pitched in 101 games with a 3.34 ERA, 1.181 WHIP, 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings, five saves and 23 holds.
Mayers fell back down to earth in 2022, going 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in 50.2 innings of action. After being granted free agency in October, Mayers signed a minor league deal with Kansas City in December.
The Royals stuck Mayers down in Triple-A to open the 2023 season, where he put up a 6.88 ERA in eight starts and 34.0 innings. The club called Mayers up to the majors on May 17 when lefty Amir Garrett went on the family medical emergency list, then DFA'd and optioned him back to Triple-A on June 21.
Mayers will only be going from the last-place Royals to the fourth-place White Sox, but the latter club is significantly closer to first place in the AL Central. Compared to the 19.5-game hole Kansas City is in, Chicago is a much more palatable 8.0 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians.
No AL Central team entered the All-Star break over .500.
Closer Liam Hendriks, reliever Garrett Crochet and reliever Joe Kelly remain on the White Sox's 15-day injured list, as do starters Mike Clevinger and Michael Kopech. With so many missing arms, Mayers may need to be added to the 26-man roster sooner rather than later.
Chicago will resume its regular season Friday night on the road against the Atlanta Braves. That game is scheduled to start at 7:20 p.m. ET.
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