Royals Acquire Outfield Help from Diamondbacks

A Potential Confusing Fit for a Randal Grichuk Trade

With the Diamondbacks pivoting to selling, they’ve made a couple of deals already, including sending first baseman Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners. Time will tell just how much the DBacks plan to sell during this deadline. Their expiring contracts put them in the perfect position to restock the farm system and reload for next season.

The puzzling piece to this deal is the Royals adding a piece ahead of the deadline. Grichuk, 33, signed a one-year contract with a mutual option that includes a $3 million buyout. The Royals are in the same position as the Diamondbacks and would need to leapfrog four teams to make the postseason.

However, the Royals have struggled to score runs this year, and their outfield ranks last in wRC+, OPS, and runs. Even before the injury of Jac Caglianone, the Royals sorely needed help. Added to this, their outfield is very left-handed at the plate. The Royals don’t quite know the severity of Caglianone’s injury at this point in time. While this seems like a play for the present, it does give the Royals some flexibility for next season if the mutual option kicks in or they restructure the deal. Grichuk was also on the Royals radar before he signed with the Diamondbacks.

What the Royals and Diamondbacks Get

While the Royals aren’t getting a superstar, they are getting a fairly steady veteran presence. Grichuk, for his part, has hit .243/.280/.462 this season with seven homers and 15 doubles. His OPS+ regressed from last year’s career high of 139, down to 102 this season.

His defense isn’t anything to write home about, and he may see a lot of time as the designated hitter with the Royals. That being said, the Royals need the offense. The Royals may opt to use Grichuk as a platoon bat, but he’s currently a better option than most of the current outfield. He owns a .827 OPS against left-handers in his career.

The Diamondbacks received Andrew Hoffmann to complete the Grichuk trade. Hoffmann, 25, found his way to the majors this season, but was in Triple-A before the trade, where he will be assigned with the Diamondbacks as well.

Hoffmann was a 12th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 MLB Draft. He has pretty good swing and miss stuff, with 55 strikeouts in 40 innings out of the bullpen in Triple-A this season.