Kansas City Royals acquire Jonny Gomes from Atlanta Braves
By Tim Haberin
The Kansas City Royals have acquired outfielder Jonny Gomes in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta will receive 22-year-old minor league shortstop Luis Valenzuela and cash in the deal.
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Gomes’ overall numbers are not much to look at this season. In 82 games he has managed a .223/.327/.368 slash line along with seven home runs and 22 RBI. However, he has performed significantly better against left-handed pitchers.
In 97 plate appearances opposite southpaws, his line stands at a much more impressive .247/.412/.466, a .306 bump in OPS compared to his production against right-handers. Five of his homers and 14 of his RBI have also come off lefties. The Royals likely see him as a potentially valuable matchup option for the final month of the season and into the playoffs.
A World Series winner with the Red Sox in 2013, Gomes has also built a reputation as a hard-nosed player and good clubhouse guy during his 13-year career. Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller commented on what Gomes has meant to the team this year:
"“Tough news. Such a great guy in the clubhouse, one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around and best teammates I’ve been around. Always in a positive mood, and doing anything he can to make the vibe better.”"
The Royals will hope that those veteran leadership traits now pay dividends for them in the postseason.
As for the Braves, they get a shortstop prospect who has been putting up some eye-catching numbers at the Class A level this season. Valenzuela boasts a .339/.368/.483 line in 47 games with three homers, three triples and 15 RBI.