The Royals have bolstered their bullpen with the acquisition of right-hander Hunter Harvey, as the Nationals announced that Harvey will head to K.C. in exchange for third baseman Cayden Wallace and the Royals’ Competitive Balance Round A pick (39th overall) in the 2024 draft. The Royals also announced the move, as well as the news that right-hander Nick Anderson has been designated for assignment to create roster space for Harvey.
Today’s 5-0 loss to the Red Sox dropped the Royals to a 52-44 record, and a game back of Boston for the third and final AL wild card slot. Playing .542 baseball is already an impressive step forward for a team that lost 106 games in 2023, yet Kansas City clearly has eyes on bouncing back from some recent struggles. The Royals started the season at a blistering 39-26 pace, but have since stumbled to a 13-18 mark in their last 31 games, and relief pitching has been a major reason behind this slide.
The K.C. bullpen ranks in the bottom third of baseball in most major categories, including 22nd in bullpen ERA (4.30). James McArthur has converted 17 of 21 save chances but has been somewhat shaky, and the Royals’ relief corps is lacking in both velocity and strikeout ability. Recent reports suggested that Kansas City was considering the bullpen as a top need heading into the trade deadline, even ahead of the Royals’ also-pressing need for outfield upgrades.
Harvey and his 97.8mph fastball provide some immediate high-leverage zip in the Royals’ pen, and Harvey also has above-average strikeout and walk rates over his 45 innings this season out of Washington’s bullpen. While he has a 4.20 ERA, Harvey’s SIERA is 2.99, as a .325 BABIP has contributed to make Harvey’s bottom-line results an insufficient reflection of his quality pitching.
Selected 22nd overall by the Orioles in the 2013 draft, Harvey drew top-100 prospect attention before a variety of injuries threatened to halt his career before it ever got off the ground. He had a 3.42 ERA over 23 2/3 innings and 26 appearances for Baltimore during the 2019-21 seasons, but the Giants claimed him off waivers in November 2021, and Harvey then moved to Washington on another waiver claim just prior to the start of the 2022 campaign.
This time with the Nationals allowed Harvey to establish himself as a solid MLB-caliber arm, even if he has flown under the radar during the team’s rebuild. Harvey has a 3.17 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, and 6.4% walk rate in 145 innings for D.C., working mostly as a setup man but with 10 saves to his ledger in 2023. Hard contact is a big red flag in Harvey’s arsenal, but he has done a passably good job of keeping this hard contact from translating into home runs. Moving to spacious Kauffman Stadium could further help the 29-year-old Harvey in this regard.
Harvey is earning a $2.35MM salary this season in his second-last year of arbitration eligibility, so the Royals also control him through the end of the 2025 campaign. This extra year of control made Harvey a particularly interesting player to watch heading into the July 30 deadline, and both Harvey and Nats closer Kyle Finnegan (also controlled through 2025) cracked the top 15 of MLBTR’s recent listing of the top 50 trade candidates. Since teams generally have to pay a bit extra to complete deals further in advance of the deadline, that factor plus Harvey’s extra year of control and perhaps the Royals’ eagerness to quickly correct their bullpen struggles combined to give Washington a pretty nice return.
The rebuilding Nationals stayed within striking distance of the NL wild card race, but today’s trade leaves no doubt that the Nats will remain on their expected path as sellers heading into the deadline. This doesn’t mean that Washington might not seek out some players that could help them be competitive as early as 2025, and Wallace could potentially fit that category, as he is currently in his second season of Double-A ball.
A second-round pick for the Royals in the 2022 draft, Wallace is hitting .282/.350/.427 over 140 plate appearances for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season, but he has been slowed by both an oblique strain and an ongoing IL stint for a broken rib. These injuries have slowed his development, but MLB Pipeline still ranks Wallace as the second-best prospect in the Kansas City farm system, and Baseball America ranked him fifth in their preseason ranking of Royals minor leaguers. Both scouting reports consider him a good defensive player with the ability to remain at third base due to a strong throwing arm, and Wallace has a good approach at the plate and a solid swing. He has power potential moreso than obvious power at the moment, so Pipeline and BA view Wallace as a gap hitter with some upside as he develops.
Trading a “third baseman of the future” candidate like Wallace serves as an endorsement of the Royals’ faith in Maikel Garcia in at least the short term, even if Kansas City might now look for some help at the hot corner down the road — perhaps as soon as tomorrow’s draft. As noted by MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman, the Nationals have now given themselves lot of third base depth for the future, with Wallace joining Brady House (ranked by Pipeline as the 44th-best prospect in all of baseball) and Yohandy Morales in the minor league ranks. This could be a potential surplus position for the Nationals in the coming years, if they return to contention and start moving their own internal prospects for more win-now veterans.
The Competitive Balance Round selections are the only types of draft picks that can be traded, and as such are quietly some of the most valued trade chips in all of baseball. Any team can trade for CBR picks, but since smaller-market and lower-revenue teams are the only clubs eligible for these bonus selections in the first place, trades involving the picks are relatively rare, given how adding talent through the draft is of such particular value for the game’s lesser spenders. Still, today’s trade marks the third CBR pick of the 2024 draft to change hands — the Brewers acquired the 34th overall pick from the Orioles as part of the Corbin Burnes trade, while the White Sox landed the 68th overall pick (in CBR Round B) as part of the deal that sent Gregory Santos to the Mariners.
The Royals select sixth overall in tomorrow’s draft, and now won’t pick again until their second-round choice (41st overall). The Nationals now have three selections within the first 44 picks, with their newly-acquired CBR selection sandwiched between their first- and second-round slots.
Anderson came to the Royals in a trade with the Braves last November, as Kansas City had interest in seeing if the former Rays bullpen ace could regain his form after three injury-marred seasons. Over 34 2/3 innings for the Royals this season, Anderson had a 4.15 ERA and not much in the way of secondary metrics, as he posted a 10.1% walk rate and 18.1% strikeout rate.
Anderson is earning $1.575MM this season, and he is arb-controlled through 2025, which could add some attraction for any club interested in adding bullpen depth via waiver claim. Anderson has now passed the five-year threshold for MLB service time due to being on the Royals’ active roster all season, and would thus retain all of his 2024 salary if he clears waivers and becomes a free agent.
Holy overpay
As a Nats fan I was angry at first seeing rizz pull the trigger on a trade so early with weeks before the deadline, but seeing the haul I understand why
With Harvey’s recent struggles, no surprise the Nats pounced on that return.
Why angry at all? As a Nats fan I eagerly hope for successful sales. Currently the Nats are not ready. positive signs in the developments, but none of them except for Abrams are clear-cut future stars.
Royal overpay. Harvey is less the Hunter and more the prey.
No he’s definitely a Hunter.
A high draft pick and a second rounder that’s showing some promise in double A. That’s a pretty shocking return for a reliever with past success but currently sporting a 4.2 era deep into the season. If he keeps that up he doesn’t even deserve a playoff roster spot on a serious contender.
How is it an overpay? Comp balance is a freebie pick, given away to select group of teams half in the league never qualify for..Ever.. and just looking over the numbers of Wallace? looks like they didn’t give up that much for a year and a half for someone with the track record of Harvey. just me.
Just because it’s given away for free doesn’t mean it’s worthless! That being said, I think it was a solid get for the Royals at a reasonable cost.
@johnsilver
Why does it matter if it’s free or not lol, your still giving away what’s essentially a first round pick for a decent reliever, although not anything elite.
One, there were only 30 teams the last time I counted. They call it supplemental for a reason.
Two, how many of the guys picked at that spot actually has had the major league career that Harvey did.
It always amazes me how people overvalue prospects in relation to real major league players.
It’s a matter of perspective and who needs what. Both teams are supposed to get what they want in a trade.
In the Royals case, as a small market, those chances don’t come around regularly, so they need to take their shot when they come along.
Gunnar Henderson
Aaron Judge.
Shoeless Joe Jackson
David Wright
What incentive do sellers have if teams aren’t bidding and “overpaying”? Trading for comparable assets has nothing to with winning “now”. The Royals need all the help they can get to make it to the playoffs. Do you have any idea how valuable that would be for Kansas City? All baseball fans should be thrilled when teams do what it takes to be in a position to win.
Also it’s a market and the trades themselves determine the prices.
Furthermore, it’s just kind of boring to see posting “overpay” after nearly every trade. It makes me think of some cheap guy who doesn’t tip servers because he thinks the food is priced too high.
Not all deadline deals are overpays. But this one is. It’s a ridiculously high price to pay for a year and a half of a good not great reliever.
Remains to be seen. You literally have one trade as a sample size. This could be the price for relievers this year with so few sellers that have talented pitching to trade. Just wait until a starter is traded, even a backend innings eater will cost this and more. The market is the market regardless of your amateur opinion.
Blackpink in the area, while I understand your perspective on the trade, I must address several critical points you seem to overlook.
Firstly, labeling a trade as an “overpay” is inherently subjective and often lacks concrete criteria. It’s easy to throw around value judgments without considering the broader context. For instance, trades are influenced by market dynamics, team needs, and strategic goals, which vary significantly from one franchise to another. Dismissing a trade as an overpay without considering these factors oversimplifies the complexity of front-office decisions.
Secondly, the notion of an “overpay” assumes that there is a clear, objective valuation for players, which isn’t always the case. The value of a player can be situational and dependent on a team’s specific context. For the Royals, making a playoff push could bring immense value beyond just on-field performance, including financial boosts from ticket sales and increased fan engagement. These factors make it worthwhile to acquire a solid reliever, even if it means parting with more assets than one might initially deem appropriate.
Moreover, your stance ignores the fundamental nature of the market. Teams are not operating in a vacuum; they must compete with other franchises bidding for the same assets. The competitive bidding process naturally drives up prices, reflecting the true market value at that moment. This is basic supply and demand at play.
Lastly, continually posting about trades being “overpays” without nuanced analysis diminishes the quality of the discussion. It reduces complex transactions to simplistic labels, much like criticizing a meal’s price without considering the overall dining experience. Just as tipping reflects the service received and the overall experience, evaluating trades should consider the broader strategy and potential benefits, not just immediate cost.
In conclusion, calling a trade an “overpay” without deeper analysis is a reductive approach that fails to capture the full picture. Understanding the context, market dynamics, and strategic goals is crucial for a more balanced view.
As a Cardinal fan I saw what players were worth last year. This is an overpay.
Try buying the S&P 500 at the price it was last year and see how that goes.
This isn’t the stock market. Players are worth what they are worth.
It’s a market and the market determines the price not your subjective perception. It’s not that tough a thing to grasp.
Man how do you go from me thinking the Royals gave up too much for a not great reliever to you thinking I don’t tip servers lol
That is a sweet pickup and a sign of what pitching is going to cost this year.
Is it an over pay if this draft sucks?
It’s an overpay even if the draft pick wasn’t included
This draft is amazing don’t know where you heard it sucks the bonus pool money alone from the pick is worth Hunter Harvey
Definitely not an amazing draft class. It’s strong at the top but nowhere near as deep as it was last year.
@cr4 Spot on with the bonus pool money, that’s huge. As for the pick time will tell but I don’t think it was an astronomical price. And Wallace has an ok glove hasn’t hit for exceptional contact or plus power. So not really anything extremely exciting there.
@cr4 – unless I’m misunderstanding there’s no actual money changing hands. It’s just that the Nats will now have a higher limit on the total bonuses they can spend on their 2024 draft picks, and the Royals will now have a lower spending limit, based on the allotted slot value of the comp balance pick that they’ve just traded.
The potential bonus slot $ is more valuable than actual $ for MLB teams. Depending on how they spread it, it can provide higher value on numerous picks throughout the draft.
It definitely has value. But more valuable than actual dollars? Well, potentially it could allow a team to use one or two of their draft picks on players they couldn’t otherwise have signed, by shifting some of their extra extra pool limit to pay those players over slot. But only so long as they’re signing their other draftees below slot, so as not to exceed their total pool money.
And definitely a stretch to say that, by itself, it’s worth Hunter Harvey.
Most MLB teams are worth roughly billion $. So yeah the few million in pool money is worth more than a few million cash. It allows them to aquire more talent which is ultimately the most valuable asset in pro sports.
I agree that Harvey might not be worth the pool $. I don’t think the 3B kid will be missed, but taking away valuable draft capital has an impact.
That’s a lot for this guy.
Harvey has barely been better this year than the guy they DFAed.
Ummm Harvey is WAY better. Literally 2 run difference in their FIPs. They only look similar if you only look at basic stats like ERA….
Well I guess when you take away all of his hard hit balls in play it looks better.
Huh? There’s zero argument for Anderson being anywhere close to as good as Harvey. What point are you trying to make?
FIP is stat that takes away all balls hit into play. Do you not know how it’s calculated? Why would I ever use a stat that hides something?
FIP does have some value. I agree tho on being reluctant when using it. Some pitchers might not often make mistakes that sees balls go into the stands, they can however regularly miss location or make mistakes that make the ball easy to drive into gaps.
I know exactly how it’s calculated. Hopefully you never use ERA considering it’s significantly more flawed. News flash all stats are flawed, some just more than others. Not real smart are you
You hope I never use ERA? Every team uses ERA That’s why they put it up on the Jumbotron for every fan to see when every pitcher enters the game. Granted it’s not the only stat they use but acting like baseball GM’s don’t care about it is ridiculous. It may be flawed over short sample sizes(like any stat) but not so much over large sample sizes.
Again, Kansas City did what they needed to do while others just sit back and watch.
You don’t think Krall will do even small moves?
The only move Krall will make at the deadline other than selling will be behind a door marked Men.
If Krall made this move you’d want his head on a pike giving up 39 for a bum reliever is insane
The same guy who gave up two recent second round picks for Will Benson?
He isn’t a bum.
Harvey’s definitely not a bum. But Reds fans may have good reason to be upset if their 47-49 team gave up their number 2 prospect and a comp A pick for a year and a half of Harvey.
Cayden Wallace was in the 2022 draft not 2024, which hasn’t happened yet.
That’d be damn near impressive if the royals gm traded a kid he hasn’t drafted yet.
Looks like you don’t know how to read
Looks like you don’t understand articles get updated and incorrect information that WAS posted (2024) gets changed TO (2022).
Draft pick = a kid he hasnt drafted yet
Are you not entertained?!
A for Nats. Easy to accept. Have to be thrilled. Can’t imagine doing better.
D for KC. Gave up a sure thing good glove 3b. Only thing that keeps it from being a F is they haven’t been able to tap into his power. They got a good strike out reliever and for next year as well. They paid a steep price but they didn’t trade anyone untradable. This 3b was looking like a all star so see what Nats can get out of him.
Wasn’t
KC’s player development system isn’t exactly churning out players. Maybe they didn’t believe in their own ability to develop him fully. There are several players on their 40 they probably wish they had traded when they still had prospect status.
I didn’t believe in it and it might not be possible. Already a solid player. Just not a special one without more power. Good return as is. Hopefully the Nats can do more.
Harvey has two more seasons of arb.
Article and link said one. D+ if it is 2.
His glove has been ok in Minors. As for his hitting nothing noteworthy as far as contact or power. He’s anything but a sure thing.
While I believe in FIP and Harvey is better than his ERA suggests this is still too much on KCs part. The draft pick alone would have been fair imo maybe add a little but not their wnd best prospect.
Giving up the 39th overall pick for a really good but not near elite reliever seems like a huge stretch. I am not stoked at all.
In the history of the draft, the 39th overall pick only has about a 50% (27 out of 55 not counting the last 4 picks still in the minors) chance of even making the majors. If we exclude Barry Bonds who didn’t sign, only 4 out of 58 picks have a career WAR over 10.0. I think you might be overrating the pick. It COULD end up being a good player, but history is not really on the side of that argument.
Good analysis.
Wow
7 of his 21 runs came in 2 of his 43 games. His ERA in the other 41 games is 2.90
Every relief pitcher in baseball can make a version of this claim. How the game works. Runs come in bunches.
Fair, but if he gives us 41 games of 2.90 ERA I’ll wear the 2 bad games.
Surprised the nationals traded him and not finnegan (so far)
I thought they’d keep Harvey for next year
Finnegan will be gone soon, and for a much better return. I’m guessing there are lots of teams interested in him
Not Nick Anderson. Oh no
I haven’t seen him throw recently, but you have to figure he’s toast now, right?
I wonder what 5 yrs of Mason miller is worth, of course A’s front office will screw it up lol. I would’ve traded Lucas erceg for that 39 pick
Alot. 4-5 really good prospects
I dunno. Interesting case. His injury file is immense. I don’t think his value goes that much higher from years of control because of that.
Too much that anyone would consider paying it. If they’re still bad once they get to Vegas he’ll be traded
The trade doesn’t seem so bad when you factor in that Harvey comes with the mustache and mullet. That’s worth extra cash considerations alone right there.
I wonder how this will mess with Finnegan and his save opportunities….
And it begins.
Their #2 prospect for Hunter Harvey? The Marlins need the Nationals savvy.
It should be noted the royals currently have the 28th ranked farm per mlb.com…so one teams #2 is def not the same as others..like would he even be top 10 for the nats? Brady house is thier top 3b prospect
Futures game, played today gave an idea of whom has the deepest and best systems. Some teams had 3 players Pipeline top 100 ranked in the game.
It’s pretty safe to say top farm systems.. Say the Cubs,Orioles, LAD, Nats for example. Top 10 players in those organizations (right now) with the systems very deep and arguably the best going, are better overall than that of 29th ranked KC (fangraphs) at the moment.
Now.. That will change of course. Teams will promote top kids, KC will draft talent, sign IFA’s like they always have in the past. They just entered a so called lean period, but my 2c (looking at numbers of Wallace here) is he just isn’t the #2 in any deep farm system.
Wallace has been added to the Nats top 30 list, at #6, House is #3. With James Wood’s promotion to the big league club, it’s really House at #2, and Wallace at #5 now.
Wow that’s a helluva nice package for a middling reliever. You’d think a team’s #2 prospect — and its not like Royals have some scrub farm system — OR the Comp B pick would have been a slight overpay on their own…but sending BOTH?! Plus probably losing Anderson, for what it’s worth
If this is indicative of the type of sellers market that’s emerging then maybe the Tigers SHOULD trade Skubal. If this schmuck was worth a Top 40 pick and team #2 prospect, then Skubal is worth a teams Top 9 prospects, right? Lol
Hes not even a top 100 prospect…why is this an overpay?
Because Harvey is a solid not great non-closer for a mediocre team, with a long injury history and one year of control left. He shouldn’t be worth that much. A’s licking their chops right now. Their ask just went through the heavens.
“That much” ..the best part of this deal might actually be the draft pick they didnt give up that much at all totally reasonable ask and return in the current market
Royals system is awful.
Dear Scott Harris
It’s apparently a sellers market
Please check to see if a player has a no trade clause and which teams are on it before dealing your best trade chips, mmmkay?
The ship sailed on that dude. Whats done is done. The people getting traded this year are free and clear.
Those arguing that it’s an overpay are leaving out a key component which is competition from other teams in contention wanting the same available players. If KC does nothing they’d be criticized too. They needed a strikeout reliever and they got one before another team beat them to it. The cost for pitching is going to be high these next few weeks.
Plus…its not like the royals even gave up a top 100 prospect they have the 28th ranked system dont let #2 fool you into thinking hes the next gunnar henderson
Well Gunnar was drafted right in that draft slot they just traded for him so they might have traded the next Gunnar Henderson.
Wonder if this means the Royals will overpay draft pick if one of the big three fall to 6th, instead of grabbing a 20th rank vicinity pick like they seem to do often.
Royals mighta panicked here.
I would have been happy with that return for Kopech !
Royals farm is pretty bad other clubs might not have been as high on the next Carter Kieboom.
I think what’s telling here is that the Nats jumped on this offer with more than 2 weeks left of the deadline without receiving competitive offers later leading up to deadline…
They jumped on it now because they really wanted the draft pick… the fact they got one of the Royals better prospect who’s had AA success as a 22 year old is a bonus
Bingo..draft pick sealed it
Or as the old saying goes about birds and bushes or something like that.
You usually get better offers now. I can’t see better offers coming. This was a offer you don’t pass.
Wallace is at best 40 grade, and the comp pick faces a ‘shallow’ draft pool. Royals might’ve figured that a good bullpen arm with upside was the right move with a playoff opportunity in view. Not many of those in Kauffman.
Wallace is almost 23 years old and has yet to progress beyond AA. The Royals continue to draft college players believing they have a quicker path to the big leagues but they don’t. They still need 4-5 years to develop which is why all of the Royals “young players” are all 25 or older. Pasquantino, Massey, Melendez. Their only real young players are Witt and Garcia. Fermin is 29.
Merrifield was 25 before he got to the show.
One thing I don’t quite get is why did the Nationals need a 3b? They have Brady House I know he hasn’t had a good 2024 but he’s still young, younger than Wallace, and I thought he was their 3b of the future.
Non of these prospects positions are set in stone and non of them making it are set in stone. You never stop getting a position because you think you have your gut of the future at a position. Who knows what will happen.
Players can always be moved both positionally and in trades. During the Nats’ great run through the 2010s, Rizzo masterfully kept trading prospects for immediate help, such as the trades for Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister.
Yeah, stockpiling prospects can only help for the future. Plus, adding another corner IF prospect in the upper minors makes sense for the Nats. They’re still waiting for House to develop, and they’re using former Cardinals prospect Juan Yepez at 1B. Apart from that they don’t have much in their upper system at 1B or DH.
One of their top prospects is a 1b. What they really need and don’t have is pitching.
They basically just have House and Morales, and now Wallace, in the upper minors at 1B/3B, and the Nats will also have a hole to fill at DH.
As to pitching, Cade Cavali will be coming back to the rotation later this season off TJS, and should slot in with Gore and Irvin at the top of their 2025 rotation. Josiah Gray is likely facing a long injury absence. Rookie starters Parker and Herz have done well in debuts this year. In any case the Nats have virtually no money on their books and have a history of using the free agent market to add pitching.
The Nationals might have a history of spending on pitching but it isn’t a good history.
They’ll get ridiculed forever for Strasburg’s final contract. But the previous Strasburg extension plus signing Scherzer and Corbin as free agents, among others, positioned them to win the 2019 WS.
I wouldn’t count on Cavalli pitching this year.
Who? Yohandy Morales? He’s a 3B that has just started playing 1B becuase he’s blocked by House (and now Wallace), but Yoyo is hitting .238 and slugging a measely .346 in AA. He’s now where near a sure thing.
Nats Pitching? They have a ton of young guys in the rotation and the farm: Jake Irvin (27), Josiah Gray (26), MacKenzie Gore (25), Mitchell Parker (24), Cade Cavalli (25), and DJ Herz (23).
It makes sense for the Royals to go for it — and Rizzo got a great haul for a relief pitcher with a long injury history and a number of recent bad outings. I’m astonished at the return, but clearly the extra year of control and fact that the royals get him for the rest of July too made some difference. Wonder who else was in on Harvey. That may have also impacted the price. Now sign Finnegan to a three year contract as we will still need a closer as our window of contention opens, and to bridge the gap until Susana is ready.
Seems like only yesterday when Hunter Harvey was being touted as the next Christy Mathewson.
No idea what their farm looks like but an OF or two would help this offense a ton. Maybe Pham/Winker or go bigger with a Rooker?
Rockies should claim Nick Anderson, He would immediately become their ace in the pen. He’s gotta be better than Tyler Kinley.
Good move by KC. Would not be surprised if Harvey takes over the closer’s role from here on out. It’s the type of move a team like KC should make given that they are surprisingly in the hunt for a playoff spot.
McArthur was a so-so SP in the Phillies system. Didn’t have big K potential then and doesn’t have it now.
Plus, Harvey is still young and not a two-month rental.
yeah after the return Washington just got, nobody is gonna trade the A’s for miller now. the A’s are gonna want A LOT. I’m hoping they can trade him. he’s had a couple of injuries already and he throws over 100+ regularly. they need to trade high on him now before that arm goes out again
Royals gave up way too much for mediocre RP
I’ll allow the trade
A word of advice for the Kansas City Royals. On the Nationals, Harvey was a much better set up man (8th inning guy) than a closer. His stuff is electric and he looks the part of a closer, but he struggled in the closer role, for whatever reason. But he hits 99mph with relative ease. We always had injury concerns, but he held up well for us. He should help your club if used correctly.
It’s too bad he’s been traded, the Mets won’t be able to light him up much anymore.
Good major league reliever. And gave up no major leaguers (there or close). Good trade for Royals—now—and will have to see about for Nats. Singles hitting third baseman in his second year at AA doesn’t thrill me. There are prospects and there are PROSPECTS; this one’s the former.