The Kansas City Royals on Tuesday traded shortstop Adalberto Mondesi to the Boston Red Sox for reliever Josh Taylor.
Mondesi, the talented but oft-injured switch-hitter, played in just 15 games last season as he tore his left ACL. The Royals then moved rookie Bobby Witt Jr. to shortstop, and it seems he will be the starter in 2023.
“We know how good Mondesi can be at times,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “It’s just been disappointing, and we hurt for Mondesi himself that his career hasn’t gone the way we would’ve liked it to go.”
The 27-year-old Mondesi, who is in the final year of his contract, made his MLB debut in the 2015 World Series against the New York Mets but never got over the injury bug. He also played in just 35 games in the 2021 season and missed time in 2018 and 2019 with various injuries.
Taylor, a 29-year-old left-hander, missed last season with a back injury but had a 3.40 ERA in 47 2/3 innings in 61 games in 2021. Taylor appeared in just eight games and had a 9.82 ERA in 2020 but pitched in 52 games for the Red Sox as a rookie in 2019, posting a 3.04 ERA in 47 1/3 innings.
By dealing Mondesi, the Royals shed $3 million from their payroll. The trade also comes one day after they dealt center fielder Michael A. Taylor and his $4.5 million salary to the Twins for pitching prospects Steven Cruz and Evan Sisk.
