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Royals Acquire Lucas Erceg

By Darragh McDonald | July 30, 2024 at 3:10pm CDT

The Royals have acquired right-hander Lucas Erceg from the Athletics, per announcements from both clubs. The A’s receive right-handers Mason Barnett and Will Klein as well as outfielder Jared Dickey.

Erceg took an unusual path to being a midseason trade target. He was drafted by the Brewers as a third baseman back in 2016 but flamed out as a hitter and eventually moved to the mound. In 2021, he tossed 47 2/3 innings at the Double-A level, allowing 5.29 earned runs per nine. As you might expect for a new convert to pitching, control was an issue at first. Erceg gave out walks to 16.4% of batters faced that year but he also got strikeouts at a decent 21.1% clip and grounders at a strong 56.8% rate.

He has generally made positive progress in each season since as he has become more accustomed to his new career path. In 2022, he logged 61 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.55 ERA, a decent step forward from the prior season. His strikeout and walk rates also improved to 24.4% and 13.1%, respectively.

In 2023, he started the year back at Triple-A before he was traded from Milwaukee to Oakland in a cash deal, with the A’s adding him to their roster shortly thereafter. He tossed his first 55 major league innings last year with a 4.75 ERA, 27.1% strikeout rate, 14.3% walk rate and 46.1% ground ball rate. The control was still an issue but it was an encouraging debut nonetheless, especially for a guy with such a limited track record on the mound. He averaged 98 miles per hour with both his four-seam fastball and his sinker while also throwing a changeup, slider and cutter.

His second major league season has seen him continue to grow. His 26.3% strikeout rate is a slight drop from last year but he has cut his walk rate all the way down to 8.3%, with his ground ball rate also creeping up to 50.5%. That’s resulted in a 3.68 ERA in 36 2/3 innings, with Erceg racking up three saves and 12 holds on the year.

The A’s didn’t necessarily have to trade Erceg now. He came into this season with less than a year of service time, meaning he can still be retained for five seasons after the current campaign, but there are also logical reasons why they were tempted to make him available.

Due to his unusual trajectory, Erceg is now 29 years old. With the A’s deep in a rebuild, he will be in his early 30s and into his arbitration seasons by the time they are likely to be competitive again. Relievers are generally considered pretty volatile in general and that might be even more true with Erceg, who has such limited experience relative to most of his peers. Rather than hold him and take the risk that his performance takes a downturn or he suffers an injury, the A’s decided to make him available at this deadline, while the industry consensus has generally been that the acquisition costs for pitching have been quite high.

The Royals have surged back into contention after many years of struggles and have been aggressive in bolstering their roster for a playoff push. The bullpen has naturally been a target area for the club this year, as their relievers have a collective 4.30 ERA that places them 24th in the majors. Their 18.6% strikeout rate is actually second to last, ahead of only the Rockies.

They acquired Hunter Harvey from the Nationals recently and this trade for Erceg will give them a couple of fresh arms who both have big punchout potential. They also added Michael Lorenzen as a swingman to bolster the group in general, as he can help them in multiple ways.

Considering the A’s just got Erceg in a cash deal last May, they are likely quite happy to cash him in for three younger players barely over a year later. Barnett, 23, was a third-round pick of the Royals in 2022. He made 23 starts last year between High-A and Double-A with a 3.30 ERA, 28.8% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate. His ERA has jumped to 4.91 at Double-A this year but with similar peripherals. His .336 batting average on balls in play and 64.2% strand rate are probably masking those underlying metrics, as he has a 27.4% strikeout rate and 9% walk rate. Baseball America currently lists him as the #11 prospect in the Royals’ system while FanGraphs has him slightly higher at #7.

Klein, 24, is a reliever who made his major league debut this year. He has 5 2/3 innings in the show so far with a 6.35 ERA. Command appears to be the biggest issue with him. Since being selected in the fifth-round of the 2020 draft, he has tossed 216 minor league innings with a 5.17 ERA. His 30.7% strikeout rate is quite impressive but he’s also given free passes to 16.1% of batters that have come to the plate. BA and FG both put him at #16 in the system.

Dickey, 22, was just drafted in the 11th round last year. He’s slashing .269/.360/.424 in High-A this year for a wRC+ of 127 and has also stolen eight bases. Neither BA nor FG have him on their KC prospect lists.

Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported on X that Erceg was headed to the Royals. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the return on X.

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Kansas City Royals Newsstand Oakland Athletics Transactions Lucas Erceg Will Klein

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View Comments (57)
Post a Comment

57 Comments

  1. CubsWin108

    1 year ago

    this is the best trade deadline ever

    9
    Reply
    • kylegocougs

      1 year ago

      Agreed, it’s been hot fire

      2
      Reply
    • LordD99

      1 year ago

      Someone on MLBLN said so many teams still being in the hunt is why this is a slow deadline because there are more buyers than sellers. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. This has not been a slow trade deadline. One of the most active I can remember.

      7
      Reply
      • holecamels35

        1 year ago

        I feel like it’s a lot of moves but no big ones that really make a difference. As a pirates fan I am also very upset with the lack of activity.

        1
        Reply
    • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

      1 year ago

      I hope this is a sign of an insane off season.

      Reply
      • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

        1 year ago

        Sadly this next offseason is gonna be like the last one

        I’m ready for the 2025-2026 one though

        Reply
  2. User 1939973770

    1 year ago

    Wow that is not expected

    Reply
  3. Simm

    1 year ago

    Good arm for the royals.

    This may have cost a lot.

    2
    Reply
    • RoyalsFanAmongWolves

      1 year ago

      I hope it won’t cost Carter Jensen or Gavin Cross because those are two guys I’m looking forward to making their MLB debut in probably 2026. we can’t afford to trade Gavin Cross because we are a little thin on outfielder prospects.

      Reply
    • Billg7987

      1 year ago

      If it didn’t, the Orioles front office will have some questions to answer. This guy is good.

      Reply
      • Unwritten Rule Breaker

        1 year ago

        Looks like they gave up a couple guys who have a ceiling of middle reliever and a lottery ticket outfielder.

        2
        Reply
  4. Roob3ucla

    1 year ago

    Is he going to take over the closer role or 7th/8th inning guy?

    Reply
    • LordD99

      1 year ago

      Yes.

      Reply
  5. oaklandfan22

    1 year ago

    Oh gosh…

    1
    Reply
  6. Poke56

    1 year ago

    Knowing JJ…after yesterday’s trade be probably gave up Witt in this trade

    1
    Reply
    • lesterdnightfly

      1 year ago

      Evidently you aren’t “knowing JJ” very well.

      2
      Reply
      • Poke56

        1 year ago

        Jaj gave up a top 5 prospect having a good yr in AAA tor a # 6 starter at best. Why deal from an area that a major weakness for s scrub insted of promoting the prospect. I’m sorry but dude who is 32 and gonna walk at the end of the year isn’t worth giving up a top 5 organization prospects

        Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          1 year ago

          @poke56 you must not know erceg is a reliever that was a two way player that just went back to pitching in 2021, and has 5 years of control that’s still a cheap reliever with upside that is continuing to get better.

          4
          Reply
        • Poke56

          1 year ago

          I’m talking about what he gave up yesterday. If he WAY over paid for lorenzen 9m sure he will way over pay again to this trade. I have NO problem with the trade for Eeceg. I’m just afraid based on JJ history what he had to give up.

          Reply
        • max l

          1 year ago

          Lucas Erceg has 5 more years of control left! He’s old because he was a 2 way player and just recently went back to pitching. And you can NEVER have too much pitching especially in the bullpen. The Royals won back-to-back AL pennants in 2014-15 by adding bullpen arm after bullpen arm and shortening the game

          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          1 year ago

          @poke you might not like the deal if your talking about the loki trade for a 26yr pitcher in triple a. Erceg is probably one of the top options available, and if you follow the royals you know that prospects don’t always work out.

          Reply
        • TLB2001

          1 year ago

          In what world is Walter Pennington a top 5 prospect?

          Reply
        • Rexhudler86

          1 year ago

          @tlb he’s another two way guy that’s figuring it out, but that wasn’t too expensive for lorenzen. Erceg is going to be pricy especially if the orioles were outbidded.

          Reply
        • Billy Idol

          1 year ago

          Crawl back under rock

          Reply
        • kcmark

          1 year ago

          JJ’s history. Last year he fleeced Texas for Cole Ragans.

          Reply
        • bobellis75

          1 year ago

          Are you talking about the Lorenzen deal? They gave up a 26 yr old LH reliever…and the ML roster has plenty of LH pitching. Oh no…we gave up a 26 yr old “prospect”………not sure I’d consider him a top 5 prospect, as a KC fan…and if he was a top 5 in this system (according to some sources) it doesn’t mean he’d be a top 5 elsewhere. You act like we gave up a top 100 prospect for a rental. We did not.

          Reply
  7. julyn82001

    1 year ago

    I like Lucas but it seems A’s are just getting younger, talented and inexpensive…

    Reply
    • timfoolery

      1 year ago

      Do you know how broke our owner is?

      1
      Reply
  8. Saint Nick

    1 year ago

    Honestly never heard of this guy until yesterday.

    Reply
    • Simm

      1 year ago

      He has a big arm. He is pretty good had an injury earlier in the year but seems to be okay now/

      1
      Reply
    • lesterdnightfly

      1 year ago

      Lost since 2022 in a cave in the Flint Hills, eh?

      1
      Reply
      • Saint Nick

        1 year ago

        Worked for fedex. Plane crashed and I was stranded on an island for 4 years.

        Reply
        • shark stitches

          1 year ago

          Glad you made it back!

          Reply
  9. Datashark

    1 year ago

    29 is too old to be on the A’s
    they usually have under 26 or over 35 (token vet)

    2
    Reply
    • Rexhudler86

      1 year ago

      He was a two way player, that just became a pitcher. He still has 5 years of control.

      2
      Reply
  10. Dickless dierkless

    1 year ago

    Cost of pitching has been high this deadline. I’m interesred in what the A’s bring back for L:ucas

    Reply
    • Datashark

      1 year ago

      he is a reliever likely at best someone at the bottom of the top 30 prospect or not on the 30 list. if they get better than that – its huge trade for A’s

      Reply
      • oaklandfan22

        1 year ago

        Don’t think you saw what Trevor Rogers just fetched

        2
        Reply
        • Datashark

          1 year ago

          Rogers is a STARTER they usually fetch more than mid-relievers

          Reply
        • Datashark

          1 year ago

          Alright they got WAY more than I expected. Two top 20 prospects from KC

          Reply
        • For Love of the Game

          1 year ago

          Way more in quantity, not quality.

          Reply
        • RoyalsFanAmongWolves

          1 year ago

          please take good care of Will Klein

          Reply
      • Jbigz12

        1 year ago

        Probably something decent in return.

        2
        Reply
      • Dickless dierkless

        1 year ago

        I was expecting something more similar to what the Yankees gave up for Mark Leiter jr. Erceg has more years of control and is younger too.

        4
        Reply
  11. This one belongs to the Reds

    1 year ago

    They might be a small market, but KC really had a plan and going for it.

    2
    Reply
  12. RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

    1 year ago

    Love seeing the Royals going for it. They’ve built a damn good squad, for pennies on the dollar, and it’s excellent for Baseball.

    6
    Reply
  13. Gumby82

    1 year ago

    #FJF

    1
    Reply
  14. Big Hurt

    1 year ago

    Also just traded for DeJong, so as a Sox fan I’m happy. No return known, yet I’m happy. How sad is that?

    Reply
  15. letsgooakland123

    1 year ago

    Great story, great player! Happy for him

    Reply
  16. Perksy

    1 year ago

    Erceg should close for them. McArthur Stinks

    1
    Reply
  17. futuregm12

    1 year ago

    Why are they giving up so much for nobodies?

    Reply
    • RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

      1 year ago

      It’s the market right now. They’re forcing their window open to maximize opportunity. Personally, I have a feeling they’ll go after a star to pair with Witt in the offseason.

      Reply
  18. Datashark

    1 year ago

    Wow that is a great haul for the A’s.
    ranked prospects #4, #18, and a dickey

    Reply
  19. bobsugar84

    1 year ago

    I wonder if he closes. McArthur just went one two three after a couple of awful outings. He was pretty solid before then though so time will tell. My guess is if he blows one more over his next five he is out.

    On a side note, Harvey who they got last week, hasn’t been great for them either and he left with back spasms two days ago. So if he goes on IL Erceg would take his place as 8th inning guy for now.

    Reply
  20. Dash 2

    1 year ago

    Not sure I like this for the Royals.
    Erceg is a decent bullpen arm, but wouldn’t be surprised if Klein develops into a dominant closer.

    Reply
  21. YourDreamGM

    1 year ago

    A for KC. Absolute bargain in this market. Gave up a real nice back end reliever with some control issues. A mid to back starter prospect. Well worth it.

    C Oakland. Not impressive in this market but fair enough. They can develop themselves into a better return.

    Reply
  22. User 3997712419

    1 year ago

    Ok, nice get JJ. Controllable until 2029? That’s nice value!

    Reply

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