:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71095088/1234613152.0.jpg)
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Atlanta Braves are finalizing a deal to send minor league outfielder Drew Waters and minor league pitcher Andrew Hoffmann to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for the 35th pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. The pick is a competitive balance pick that can be traded and has a $2.2 million slot value.
Atlanta and Kansas City are finalizing a trade that will send center-field prospect Drew Waters, right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Hoffmann and a third minor leaguer to the Royals for the 35th pick in Sunday's draft, which has a $2.2 million slot value, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 11, 2022
The big part of this deal for Atlanta is the additional bonus pool money. Per Passan, the Braves will have the 10th biggest bonus pool at $10.2 million after this deal is completed. Atlanta’s farm system has been depleted by graduations and trades recently and this could go a long way towards fixing that.
Waters is a former Top 100 prospect that probably could use a change of scenery after stalling out at Triple A. He is hitting .246/.305/.393 with five home runs and an 84 wRC+ in 210 plate appearances at Gwinnett this season.
The Braves drafted Hoffmann in the 12th round of the 2021 Draft. He has pitched well at High A Rome posting a 2.36 ERA and a 3.74 FIP while averaging more than a strikeout per inning.
UPDATE - CJ Alexander is also headed to the Royals per Jeff Passan.
The third prospect in the deal is C.J. Alexander, a big-power soon-to-be-26-year-old who is in AA, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 11, 2022
Full trade:
Kansas City gets Drew Waters, Andrew Hoffmann and C.J. Alexander.
Atlanta gets the 35th pick in this week's draft.
UPDATE - The Braves have officially announced the deal
#Braves and Royals Complete Trade: pic.twitter.com/tZybD5SMu8
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 11, 2022
Loading comments...