The Major League Baseball transaction page is full of KC Royals moves on Friday.
Remember when I mentioned they had a full 40-man roster and needed to make room for three players on the 60-day DL and newly acquired pitcher Ervin Santana? Well, they made room and made more moves.
- They designated four players for assignment:
Pitchers Tommy Hottovy, Blake Wood, and Jeremy Jeffress, and outfielder Jason Bourgeois. Wood, who missed the 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery, was then claimed by the Cleveland Indians. GM Dayton Moore said they were hoping to keep Wood, as he pitched very well (really?).
Local guy Hottovy is a lefty reliever that could be claimed, or he could take the assignment back to Triple-A Omaha. Jeffress is interesting. He has great stuff, but hasn’t figured out how to harness it. Is this the Royals giving up on him? He was acquired in the Zack Greinke deal.
Centerfielder Bourgeois was acquired from Houston late in spring training with catcher Humberto Quintero and really did nothing for the Royals at both the big league level and in the minors. His defense in centerfield leaves a lot to be desired, despite his speed.
- Catcher Manny Pina was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha. I expect he will be invited to spring training in 2013.
- They then activated Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino from the 60-day DL. Both had Tommy John surgery midseason and will miss most, if not all, of 2013.
- The Royals then claimed two players off waivers:
Pitcher Guillermo Moscoso from the Colorado Rockies and catcher Brett Hayes from the Miami Marlins. Moscoso pitched the last four seasons with Texas, Oakland, and then the Rockies. With the Rockies, he was 3-2 with a 6.12 ERA (including three starts). In 2011 with the A’s, he went 8-10 with a 3.38 ERA over 23 games (21 starts).
Hayes has been a backup catcher with the Marlins for parts of the last four seasons. He hit just .201 in 39 games in 2012 and .231 in 64 games in 2011.
*With the roster full, the Royals have 21 pitchers, four catchers, nine infielders, and six outfielders.
