Royals reportedly acquire veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk
The Royals add a 33-year-old outfield bat.
The Royals have acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to ESPN writer Jeff Passan. The 33-year-old was hitting .243/.280/.462 with seven home runs in 186 plate appearances this year. Jon Heyman reports the Royals will give up pitcher Andrew Hoffmann.
Grichuk is a 12-year veteran with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Rockies, Angels, and Diamondbacks, with a lifetime line of .252/.299/.468. The right-handed hitter has been a platoon player the last two seasons, but his platoon split was less pronounced this year. He hit just .230/.281/.469 against lefties this year, although he hit .319/.386/.528 against them last year.
The Royals tried to sign Grichuk this past off-season, according to reports last winter from Anne Rogers. He eventually signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Diamondbacks and has a $5 million mutual option with a $3 million buyout.
The addition, while modest, represents an upgrade for an outfield that has struggled to hit this year. Coming into today, Royals outfielders have hit .208/.262/.311, and their 56 wRC+ is by far the worst in baseball. Hoffmann has given up six runs, although just two earned, in 4 2⁄3 innings over three outings.