The Kansas City Royals have announced the acquisition of minor league right-handed pitcher Kaley Kalich from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jorge Soler. Kalich will be assigned to Quad Cities (A+).
Kalich, 23, was Atlanta’s fourth-round selection in 2019 out of Texas A&M University. He’s spent the 2021 season with Rome (A+), pitching to a 3.26 ERA (11 ER in 30.1 IP) over 20 appearances and has recorded 35 strikeouts (10.38 K/9). He’s gone 5-for-5 in his save opportunities this season. In his first professional season (2019), the right-hander went 1-1 with a 1.25 ERA (3 ER in 21.2 IP), with 24 strikeouts (9.97 K/9).
Soler, 29, was hitting .192 with 13 homers and 37 RBI for the Royals this season. He set the franchise record with 48 home runs in 2019, also setting career highs in hits (156), doubles (33), RBI (117), walks (73) and runs scored (95) that season. He was originally acquired by the Royals on December 7, 2016 from the Chicago Cubs.
The Soler trade marked one of several made on “Deadline Day” across the MLB landscape. Among the biggest deals, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins, sending the franchise’s #2 overall prospect Austin Martin, and #4 prospect Simeon Woods Richardson, back to Minneapolis. Martin was the 5th overall selection in the 2020 draft, with the center fielder a product of Vanderbilt University. Woods Richardson came to Toronto as part of the Marcus Stroman trade in 2019. The right-hander has a 5.76 ERA Acquiring Berrios added to a flurry of activity for Toronto, with Adam Cimber and Corey Dickerson picked up from Miami on Thursday, in addition to Washington closer Brad Hand.
In a trade between in-city rivals, the AL Central-leading White Sox found a closer for the remainder of the 2021 season, acquiring Craig Kimbrel from the Cubs, sending second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-hander Codi Heuer to the “North Side”. On Thursday, the Cubs sent reliever Ryan Tepera to the White Sox in a separate deal.
The Cubs fire sale on Friday afternoon saw star infielder Javier Baez sent to the New York Mets. Headed back to Chicago is the Mets #5 overall prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong. In New York, Baez will pair with high-priced free agent shortstop Francisco Lindor to give the Mets one of the top double-play tandems in baseball. Former MVP Kris Bryant is headed from the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants, in a deal completed just prior to the 3 o’clock Friday afternoon deadline. The Giants, leading the NL West with the best record in baseball, had a need for Bryant, with infielders Tommy La Stella, Brandon Belt, and Evan Longoria all battling injuries.
