The Royals have claimed Rule 5 choice Patrick Schuster off of waivers from the Padres, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes reports (Twitter links). The 23-year-old southpaw was the first choice in this year's Rule 5 draft.
Kansas City will now have the same rights as did San Diego, meaning the club will need to keep him on its active roster all year in order to keep him going forward. Otherwise, he would once again hit the waiver wire and ultimately (if he clears waivers) be offered back to the Diamondbacks, his original team.
As Dierkes notes, the Royals had seemed ready to give its last pen slot to fellow lefty Francisley Bueno. Instead, perhaps, the club will see if Schuster is able to contribute enough to occupy a valuable roster slot. Of course, Kansas City would need to pass the out-of-options Bueno through waivers to stash him in the minors.
Francisley Bueno needs to find himself another organization if he doesn’t make the Royals out of spring training this year. Yes, he is older, and yes, he has had limited MLB experience, but I’m not sure what else the Royals want to see out of him. His 2012-2013 numbers in AAA and the majors were certainly good enough.
Bueno is 33. He may be out of options anyway. But either way, I would expect a team to free up someone that age so he can find a job elsewhere
Lefties can always find work. I guess I am just surprised that KC, or anyone else, hasn’t given him a real shot yet.
Didn’t the Royals steal Soria away from the Padres years ago.