The Kansas City Royals made a move to strengthen their roster on Saturday, acquiring veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade designed to keep the team in the playoff race. In return, Arizona received right-handed pitcher Andrew Hoffmann, a 25-year-old reliever who made three appearances out of Kansas City’s bullpen this season and was originally drafted by the Braves in 2021. Grichuk, 33, has spent the past season and a half with Arizona, primarily serving as a right-handed bat against left-handed pitching.
The trade underscores the Royals’ intent to compete in the American League, as they currently hold a 51-54 record and sit 4 1/2 games behind the final wild-card spot. Kansas City star Bobby Witt Jr. praised Grichuk’s work ethic, saying he expects the veteran to make an impact. The deal was finalized during Arizona’s 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh, with Grichuk pulled from the game in the fifth inning and seen hugging teammates in the dugout. Grichuk went 0-for-2 that night, leaving Arizona batting .240 with seven home runs through 71 games this season. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo admitted the trade was emotional, marking the first time in his nine-year managerial career that a player was dealt during a game. Grichuk, a 12-year MLB veteran, has 210 career home runs and has previously played for the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Rockies, and Angels. This move comes shortly after Arizona traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners, with speculation continuing to swirl around other players like Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Eugenio Suarez as the trade deadline approaches.
