The Kansas City Royals made a significant move by acquiring right-handed reliever John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox. This trade involved sending right-handed pitching prospect David Sandlin to the Red Sox in exchange for Schreiber. The deal was finalized on Saturday, adding depth to the Royals’ bullpen.
John Schreiber, at 29 years old, had his breakout season in 2022 when he achieved a 2.22 ERA over 65 innings with an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio. Although he experienced a slight regression in the following year, Schreiber still managed to strike out 53 batters over 46⅔ innings with a 3.86 ERA. His consistency and performance have made him a valuable asset to the Royals.
Impact on the Royals’ Bullpen
The addition of John Schreiber comes as part of the Royals’ efforts to revamp their bullpen, which had the worst ERA in the American League last season. With key signings like Will Smith and Chris Stratton, as well as a trade for Nick Anderson, the Royals are addressing their pitching needs aggressively this offseason. The team’s commitment to improving its bullpen is evident through these strategic moves.
In exchange for Schreiber, the Boston Red Sox received right-handed pitching prospect David Sandlin. Sandlin, a 23-year-old with promising potential, possesses an above-average fastball and slider, along with a split-fingered fastball. As an 11th-round pick in 2022, Sandlin showed promise in his first full season with a 3.51 ERA in 14 starts between Low-A and High-A. The Red Sox are aiming to bolster their pitching depth, and Sandlin’s arrival is a step towards addressing this need.
The trade between the Kansas City Royals and the Boston Red Sox involving John Schreiber and David Sandlin has implications for both teams. The Royals are strengthening their bullpen with the addition of Schreiber, while the Red Sox are adding a talented young pitcher in Sandlin. These moves reflect the teams’ strategic approaches to building competitive rosters for the upcoming season.