The Athletics have traded right-hander Mitch Spence to the Royals in exchange for minor league righty AJ Causey, per announcements from both clubs. Spence was designated for assignment by the A’s earlier this week. Kansas City placed righty Alec Marsh on the 60-day IL to open a roster spot for Spence.
The 27-year-old Spence didn’t have to wait long to find a new home after getting DFAed on Tuesday. He’ll head to Kansas City as a depth option behind a fairly set rotation. Marsh had labrum surgery in November and is set to miss the 2026 season. His placement on the 60-day was a formality.
The Athletics added Spence as a Rule 5 pick from the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season. He emerged as a mainstay in the rotation that year, piling up 151 1/3 innings across 35 appearances (24 starts). Spence posted an ERA in the mid-4.00s with subpar strikeout numbers. He did well to limit walks and got ground balls at an above-average clip.
The offseason additions of Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino squeezed Spence out of the rotation. He made 32 appearances with the club, mostly out of the bullpen. Spence briefly returned to the rotation in June. His performance as a starter (5.05 ERA, 11 home runs allowed) led to a demotion to the minors. Spence returned to the A’s in September. He was hammered for nine earned runs in 10 innings to close the season.
Spence will be built up as a starter with Kansas City, but the club likes that he has experience in both roles, notes Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The Royals currently have Bailey Falter penciled into the swingman spot.
Kansas City took Causey in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of Tennessee. The 23-year-old right-hander began his pro career at High-A this past season. After 40 1/3 innings of a 1.56 ERA with Quad City, he made the jump to Double-A. Causey maintained a sub-2.00 ERA in 21 games with Northwest Arkansas. He compiled a 1.72 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning in 48 appearances across the two levels. Scouting grades laud Causey’s slider and changeup. His sidearm delivery helps his 90 mph fastball play up.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images
What is with Royals and trading for A’s pitchers? Also, why would trade anything but cash for a DFA’d player?
To answer the second question, either because there were multiple interested trade partners and so there was a small “bid war”, or because the Royals expected that someone before them in waiver priority would claim him if it got there, so the Royals needed to offer something up to get him directly by trade.
Causey is an interesting player.
He hasn’t taken many at-bats since college but could the A’s develop him into a two-way reserve?
A guy on the bench who can hit and play some first base but is primarily on the roster to throw 50+ innings in relief?
Teams have to be looking at players who have this sort of potential. Ohtani cant be the only human capable of mashing the ball and throwing good innings on the mound.
If a team can develop a pair of two-way players for the bench, they can create a significant advantage.
A six man rotation and an extra arm in the bullpen.
See you in a couple years Causey… or not.
Chad Bradford 2.0!!! Nice!!!
The Royals say they want to move their farm system up toward the middle of the pack. Causey looked like a pretty good prospect to be sending for a pitcher that likely adds little to their chances.
Maybe the pitching developers in the system see something that the stats don’t show. Can only hope.
The A’s saw something too. Made him a rule 5 pick and kept him on the 40 man for the season. There’s obviously something there teams see in him.