Royals Swing Notable Trade As Playoff Race With Red Sox Heats Up

After the Kansas City Royals were handed a 5-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, they added a new addition to their bullpen.

The Royals added right-hander Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals in exchange for third baseman Cayden Wallace and their Competitive Balance A pick in the 2024 Draft.

With the addition of Harvey, Kansas City is adding a piece they were missing. The Royals have one of the worse bullpens in MLB with a bullpen ERA of 4.30.

Harvey is having a down year compared to recent seasons, currently sitting on a 4.20 ERA. In 2023, Harvey ended his season with a 2.82 ERA through 57 games (60 2/3 innings). If he finds more consistency, Harvey could be a solid addition for the Royals.

The trade could not come at a better time after the Royals dropped a game back of the Red Sox, who currently hold the final AL wild-card spot.

The Royals could keep Harvey in 2025 as an arbitration-eligible player. As of right now, the right-hander is earning a $2.35 million salary.

The Red Sox will play their last game before the MLB All-Star break against the Royals on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. ET with all game coverage on NESN.