Nationals trade Harvey to Royals

The Kansas City Royals announced they bolstered their bullpen Saturday, acquiring right-hander Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals for infield prospect Cayden Wallace and a Competitive Balance Round A pick (39th overall) in Sunday's draft.

Kansas City designated right-hander Nick Anderson for assignment in a corresponding move.

Harvey, 29, put up a 4.20 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 1.22 WHIP along with 50 strikeouts and 12 walks in 43 appearances for Washington this season. He's been the Nats' primary setup man this year but did tally 10 saves in 2023.

A first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2013, Harvey was a top prospect in their system before injuries slowed his progress. It was only when he moved to Washington in 2022 that he finally solidified his spot in the majors and turned himself into a quietly consistent reliever. Over his three years in the nation's capital he put up a 3.17 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9 rate with only 12 home runs allowed.

Harvey, who has one year of arbitration eligibility remaining, lengthens a Royals bullpen that needs some help for the stretch run. The bullpen ranks 24th in the majors in total production and 29th in K/9 rate (7.4). Angel Zerpa is Kansas City's only primary reliever with an ERA below 4.00.

The Royals, one of baseball's biggest surprises this year, are pushing to make their first playoff appearance since winning the 2015 World Series. Matt Quatraro's team entered play Saturday sitting third in the AL Central and one game back of Boston for the final wild-card spot.

Wallace, who turns 23 in August, was ranked by MLB.com as the Royals' No. 2 prospect. He hit .282/.350/.427 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 34 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas before landing on the injured list with an oblique strain in late May. The 2022 second-round pick was nearing a return until suffering a fractured rib from a hit-by-pitch during his rehab assignment last week.

Anderson, who was cut by Kansas City to clear a roster spot for Harvey, put up a 4.15 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and one save in 36 appearances this year.

The Nationals will now have three draft picks - Nos. 10, 39, and 44 - during the first day of this year's MLB Draft.

Competitive balance picks can be traded up to two hours before the start of Sunday's draft. They are the only picks permitted to be included in trades and cannot be dealt again by the acquiring team.