The Kansas City Royals bolstered their bullpen and bench in a couple of trade deadlines moves this afternoon, picking up right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg from the A's and shortstop/third baseman Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox.
The 29-year old Erceg has a 3.68 ERA in 36 2/3 innings this season with the A’s, with 41 strikeouts and 13 walks. He will not be a free agent until 2030.
For Erceg, the A’s will receive right-handers Will Klein and Mason Barnett and outfielder Jared Dickey. Barnett has a 4.91 ERA in 19 appearances with Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season. Klein is a reliever currently with the team in Chicago, while Dickey was the Royals’ 11th-round Draft pick in 2023 and was due for a jump onto MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Prospects rankings this season.
Erceg, who has been filling in for closer Mason Miller, gives Kansas City a power arm in the bullpen, averaging 98.4 mph on his fastball and generating a ton of swings and misses with his slider and changeup.
DeJong will be a power bat off the bench, who can spell the left side of the infield. DeJong has 18 home runs this season, with a .228 batting average. He’s played the majority of games at shortstop for the White Sox this year but also logged 88 2/3 innings at third base.
For DeJong, the White Sox will receive minor league reliever Jarold Rosado, who has a 1.85 ERA in 27 games for Single-A Columbia this season.
