12:19pm: The Royals announced that they’ve acquired minor league right-hander Carlos Mateo from the Astros in exchange for Coleman.
The 19-year-old Mateo (20 later this month) has pitched in parts of two seasons with Houston’s affiliate in the Dominican Summer League. He’s worked primarily out of the bullpen, pitching a total of 36 innings with a 3.25 ERA, 29.8% strikeout rate and 11.3% walk rate during that time. Mateo was not ranked among Houston’s top prospects and figures to report to the low levels of Kansas City’s system for the 2024 campaign.
12:10pm: The Royals are trading right-hander Dylan Coleman to the Astros, per a report from Anne Rogers and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. As pointed out by Rogers, this opens a spot on Kansas City’s 40-man roster ahead of this afternoon’s Rule 5 draft. It’s unknown what they are receiving in return but it could be a cash deal.
Coleman, 27, has been on the Royals’ roster since September of 2021, serving as an optionable depth arm in that time. He has 92 2/3 innings of major league experience to this point with an earned run average of 3.88. His 24.1% strikeout rate in that time is above average but he has also walked 13.9% of batters faced. Control was a particular problem in 2023, as he gave free passes to 19.8% of hitters in the majors and 21.8% in Triple-A.
Despite the command issues, there are reasons for the Astros to be intrigued. For one thing, Coleman still has a couple of options, meaning he won’t require an active roster spot in the short term if the control remains an issue. He also has just over a year of service time, meaning he can be a long-term piece for the club if he gets things on track. His fastball averages in the upper 90s and he has always racked up plenty of strikeouts in the minors.
Coleman will be a project for his new club whereas it would appear the Royals feel they could make better use of that roster spot in the Rule 5 draft, which begins at 1pm Central. The Royals have the second pick, with the Athletics going first.
Excellent buy-low move
I get this notification on my phone:
TRADE RUMORS:
ASTROS ACQUIRE DYLAN C
and come here to find out it’s some reliever from KC.
Hilarious!
I just saw “Astros acquire Dylan” and I jumped. I figured that Houston was a “mystery” team. MLBTR is working that trolling game.
you got excited for Dylan Carlson didn’t you!!??
Need more than this because if the Yankees get Soto, they’re the second AL team to make moves to catch up while the Astros rest on their laurels and settle for under-the-radar players. The Orioles are talented now too.
They don’t have the budget for splashy moves, but I don’t really think they need one. let Dana Brown work. Also show Jeff Bagwell the door.
It’s not “they don’t have the budget”, but rather “Crane doesn’t seem to want to”.
That walk rate last year could be the storyline of a horror movie.
Strange move for a Royals team in need of bullpen help. Clearly the Royals sèe at least 2 players they value better than Coleman available in the rule 5 draft.
I read the Dylan and Astros and almost soiled myself. Wrong Dylan.
Tired of them going after projects like this that need work. But he can be stashed in the minors. Whether will amount to anything not sure.
But it is typical of the Astros. Yes with name Dylan thought would mean Cease. We need a starter. It is up in air what Verlander will be like with Age, and Framber and Javier who they still think are aces which are not. Not sure what will have. Come out for April and May decent then flop the rest of season. Brown and France not even sure on them. Brown was a disaster even though had some good moments. Urquidy was hurt but when came back was a disaster. He isn’t great even as a starter. He got us one good game this season late but was only maybe an inning or two pitcher rest of season as he got in trouble even during that time.
Whether Spencer makes a splash not sure. Outfiled YET AGAIN they are tagging Chas and Meyers neither are any good. Chas had some moments but nothing impressive. Even if were in there for times neither were any good hitting. Chas did nothing in playoffs. A lot didn’t. Bregman, Pena even during the season were struggling. I put some blame on Dusty with moving them here, there and everywhere to get them out of slump or whatever he was doing.
So will see if Espada has a lineup that sticks but if looking for production from Meyers, Chas I would not count on it.
So this is a sort of ok move but moves should be making I say we need NEW OWNERSHIP. GET RID OF BAGWELL as part of it. I would take Biggio over Bags.
No one is going to read this
McCormick is virtually George Springer at the plate
Springer: .270/.361/.491
McCormick: .273/.353/.489
But sure, keep telling yourself Chas isn’t any good.
Your baseball acumen is amazing! Get rid of a hall of famer who the players love and ownership that has been to the ALCS a record 7 times in a row. Clearly not an Astros fan
Dodger troll