The Royals added another arm to a stretched-thin pitching mix on Tuesday, claiming left-hander Connor Thomas off waivers and sending him to Triple-A Omaha, according to a team announcement.
Kansas City had room on its 40-man roster after designating Matt Strahm for assignment earlier in the day, so the move did not require a corresponding transaction.
Thomas, 28, has had a rough start to his big league career in the small sample that’s there: 11 2/3 innings, 27 runs allowed. Even so, clubs keep circling back.
The A’s and now the Royals have both grabbed him on waivers in recent weeks, likely looking to see whether his minor league numbers this season can translate up top. In the minors, Thomas has posted a 2.09 ERA with a 22.3 K% and 8.1 BB%.
The A’s and Braves had previously tried to pass him through waivers and failed. Kansas City may wind up in the same spot, but the timing makes sense given how many arms the club has lost.
Stephen Kolek is out for the season. Cole Ragans had UCL surgery earlier this summer.
Alec Marsh has not pitched at all because of shoulder trouble, and Luinder Avila landed on the injured list just yesterday. On top of that, depth pitchers Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna are on the minor league injured list.
Right now, the Royals’ rotation is down to Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Noah Cameron as the three established starters. They’ve already turned to former Twins right-hander Randy Dobnak for innings, while Easton McGee gives them a multi-inning option in the bullpen.
Kansas City still needs bodies to get through the rest of the year, and Thomas joins a group that includes Mitch Spence and Mason Black as possible depth answers. He could get a quick look whenever the Royals need length, or he could end up back on the DFA carousel again. For the moment, though, he’s headed to Omaha.
In Other News...
Royals Just Took A Chance On A Former Top Pick
After the trade deadline, the Royals found a small-window opportunity to add a bat with some pedigree, acquiring infielder-outfielder Jacob Berry from the Marlins. Berry has bounced through the minors since Miami made him a first-round pick in 2022, and his profile still carries the kind of appeal clubs tend to keep watching for: enough offensive production to stay interesting, plus the defensive versatility to move around the field.
For Kansas City, the timing matters as much as the price tag, because post-deadline deals can still happen for players who have not spent the full season on a 40-man roster. It is a low-cost swing on a former premium draftee, the sort of move that can fill organizational depth now while leaving open the possibility that Berrys next step is the one that finally starts to separate him from the pack. [Read more 🡒]
Bobby Witt Jr Is Making The Royals Decision Harder To Ignore
Bobby Witt Jr. has kept putting pressure on the Royals to keep moving him up, and his season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas has only strengthened the case. The top prospect has been one of the most productive players in the system, showing the kind of offensive growth that makes a promotion to Triple-A feel less like a possibility and more like the next logical step. He has also been working closely with Whit Merrifield, gaining from that mentorship while staying focused on helping his team win and refining the parts of his game the Royals value most.
The timing only adds to the intrigue. Witt is set to be on one of baseballs biggest prospect stages at the MLB Futures Game, which will only sharpen the spotlight already following him around the Royals farm system. For Kansas City, the question is getting harder to avoid: how much longer can they keep a player like this in Double-A when he keeps looking ready for what comes next? [Read more 🡒]
Danny Duffys Push To Return Comes With A Real Royals Risk
Danny Duffy has been out since late August with a low-grade pronator strain in his left arm, but the Royals are still weighing a path that could put him back in the rotation before the season is over. The left-handers situation has lingered long enough to raise real concern, even as manager Ned Yost keeps the door open for a return and the club looks at a six-man rotation as one way to ease the workload.
Duffy has made it clear the discomfort may have to be dealt with after the season, yet he wants to keep pitching through it for now. The Royals would welcome the extra arm, but the bigger question is whether pushing for one more stretch in September is worth the risk when a more permanent fix could be waiting once the year ends. [Read more 🡒]