Harvey to Kansas City

The boys in blue made a splash to bolster the bullpen, minutes after President Trump was nearly shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania (pierced the President's ear). 
Kansas City's bullpen up to this point had been struggling, primarily at the closer’s role. The team started the season with Will Smith as the team's shutdown guy. Smith lost his job as the closer after blowing multiple save opportunities. The front office struck a trade with Washington on Saturday to acquire closer Hunter Harvey. Kansas City's farm system entering the season was considered weak, but despite the depleted system, the Royals were able to acquire right-hander Hunter Harvey for third baseman Cayden Wallace and Competitive Balance Round A pick 39. Harvey was a former first round selection by the Orioles. Harvey's journey to the US Capitol was thanks to a waiver claim by the Nationals. In 2022 the Nationals claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Giants.
 Harvey comes to Kansas City with an ERA of 4.20 with an even 50 strikeouts and a win-loss record of 2-4. The 29-year old as of late has been abysmal with an 8.53 ERA in the final seven games as a member of the Nationals bullpen. Despite Harvey's struggles, the Royals believe he will be a boost to the bullpen.
Harvey's numbers aren't the most impressive, but don't let the stats fool you. Harvey has a four pitch mix to close out games. The 29-year old's arsenal includes a four seamer, split finger, curveball and a slider. Harvey is a hard thrower with a 98 mph on his fastball. The flamethrower primarily relies on his fastball at 63% of the time. Harvey in my opinion must decrease the amount of fastball's he throws and throw a bit more of his other pitches. 
Financially the team's decision to bring in Harvey was brilliant. The Royals will be paying the remainder of Harvey's $870,000 salary, and he is eligible for free agency in 2026. 
Although Harvey adds heat to the pen, the right-hander does however have an injury history. Earlier this season, the right-hander left a game against the Giants with a left hand injury sustained off a hit by San Francisco outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. 
Before the right-hander was dealt to the Royals, the team used right-hander James McArthur to shut down games.  McArthur this season owns an ERA of 4.10, and the team designated right-hander Nick Anderson for assignment. The departure of Anderson shows that the team still trusts James McArthur. Harvey wasn't the only arm of the Nationals that Kansas City showed interest in. The team was mentioned as a potential landing spot for reliever Kyle Finnegan. 
What did the Royals lose in the departure of third baseman Cayden Wallace? Like Harvey, Wallace has struggled to stay on the field as of late. Wallace was in the middle of a rehab assignment with the Royals Double-A affiliate Northwest Arkansas. Before injuries derailed Wallace, the outfielder played in 41 games; but the injuries definitely hurt Wallace's numbers with the Naturals. Wallace leaves the organization with a career batting average of .265 with 18 home runs, 118 RBI's and 29 stolen bases. Despite the injuries, the outfielder is only 22 and could turn his career around in the Nationals organization. 
The addition of Harvey should help lift the pen from the bottom of the pact a little, ranking 22nd with a 4.30 ERA. Kansas City's trade with the Nationals will not be the only move the team makes to bolster the bullpen and possibly a bat as they hope to reach the playoffs this season. 










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