Royals continue bolstering bullpen in trade for Schreiber

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals’ pursuit of better pitching, more strike-throwers and a deeper bullpen did not stop when pitchers and catchers reported this past week for Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz.

Saturday brought the latest move when Kansas City acquired right-handed reliever John Schreiber from Boston. In return, the Royals sent Minor League starter David Sandlin, their No. 19 prospect, to the Red Sox. In a corresponding move, the Royals placed righty Kyle Wright, currently rehabbing from shoulder surgery this past offseason, on the 60-day injured list.

TRADE DETAILS
Royals get: RHP John Schreiber
Red Sox get: RHP David Sandlin (Royals No. 19 prospect)

“We've been trying to continue to address the bullpen, and we wanted somebody who had been in some leverage situations before,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We were real happy with our reports, real happy with the data we have on him.”

Schreiber gives the Royals another high-leverage arm as they continue remaking their bullpen from last season. Parting with Sandlin, selected by Kansas City in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma, stings because he’s a young arm with strikeout stuff (90 strikeouts in 68 2/3 Minor League innings). But with Schreiber, the Royals are also getting three years of control (including this year).

The 29-year-old recorded a 3.86 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 46 appearances (46 2/3 innings) last season with the Red Sox. He began the year with a 2.12 ERA in his first 18 appearances before being placed on the injured list with a right lat strain. Schreiber would miss a little over two months before returning, and in 28 appearances following the injury, he posted a 4.85 ERA. This spring, though, he's once again healthy.

A five-year Major League veteran, Schreiber has a 3.58 ERA in his career with the Tigers and Red Sox. His best year came in 2022, when he posted a 2.22 ERA across 64 games (65 innings) with 74 strikeouts and, at one point, didn't allow a run in 19 consecutive appearances (17 1/3 innings). He has limited walks for the most part in his career (8.8 BB%), although last year his walk rate jumped to 12.3%.

Schreiber, who is not a free agent until 2027, only has nine career saves and will likely appear in the sixth, seventh or eighth innings, depending on the game. Ideally, he’s a pitcher the Royals turn to with a lead if their starter departs in the fifth or sixth inning, bridging the gap to the late-inning relievers and veteran closer Will Smith.

The right-hander has a lower arm slot and operates with a two-seamer that runs into righties, four-seamer, slider and changeup. His stuff grades well above-average, which excited the Royals’ research department, but their scouts were also convicted in his high-leverage ability.

“He can bring not only diversity with a different arm slot, different look from the bullpen,” manager Matt Quatraro said, “but somebody that’s pitched in high leverage, somebody that we consider able to make us a deeper bullpen overall and just a better team.”

The Royals focused on improving their pitching staff this offseason, bringing in Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to the rotation and Smith, Chris Stratton and Nick Anderson to the bullpen. They were still eyeing another reliever as the organization descended on Surprise, Ariz., for Spring Training last week, someone who could close games alongside Smith or pitch in high-leverage innings. Their goal was to significantly increase the amount of competition, depth and strike-throwers in camp -- and to do so this season.

“Evaluating our team, we have to give [Quatraro] and [pitching coach] Brian Sweeney options where they feel comfortable,” Picollo said. “Now, I think there’s stability in all the guys we acquired. They’re going to come in, compete in the strike zone. Don’t want to get overly concerned with strikeouts, but trust our defense, put the ball in play, be efficient.”

The Royals knew a trade like Saturday’s would come at a cost. Sandlin, who turns 23 on Feb. 21, posted a 3.51 ERA with 87 strikeouts across 66 2/3 innings in 14 starts last year between Single-A Columbia and High-A Quad Cities before missing the rest of the season with an oblique strain.

Despite his injury, Sandlin was primed for a jump in the Royals’ prospect rankings this spring. If he reaches his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter or higher, the trade would hurt in hindsight. But Picollo isn’t asking himself, “What if?”

Acquiring a proven Major Leaguer now helps the Royals the next three years, a period where they’re ready to take the next step.

“Ultimately, we decided it was best for the organization,” Picollo said. “We need a deep bullpen. We’re going to need guys in the sixth and seventh inning. John has done that. He’s pitched in higher-leverage situations in the eighth. He’s really tough on right-handed hitters. So the move wasn’t just to be transactional. It was because it makes sense for our big league team right now and the next couple of years.”