The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired outfielder Jon Jay from the
Kansas City Royals in exchange for LHP Gabe Speier and RHP Elvis
Luciano.For the D-backs, A.J. Pollack's injury has caused some problems for them. David Peralta, Chris Owings and Jarrod Dyson are the only outfielders on the roster, and Owings also plays middle infield. Getting a rental 4th outfielder until Pollack returns will help. Also, Jay could just start in center or right, with Owings and short some games, though Daniel Descalco and Nick Ahmed will play mostly at short (and Ketel Marte and short and second). The don't give up much, just two low leveled pitching prospects.
Jay, 33, has a .307 batting average, one homer, 18 RBIs and three stolen bases in 266 Plate Appearances for the Royals this season. In his MLB career for the Royals, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals, Jay has a .290 batting average, with 34 home runs, 305 RBIs and 54 stolen bases in 3742 Plate Appearances.
For the Royals, they are one of the worst teams in the league. To hold on the rentals would make no sense. Jay is by no means an all-star, so the price of return makes sense. They are both low leveled prospects, and are risks.
Speier, 23, has a 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 193 strikeouts in 234 innings in his minor leagues.
Luciano, 18, hasn't pitched in 2018, but had a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 66.2 innings in 2017, his only professional season.
I think this is an even trade. The Diamondbacks get the rental they need, and the Royals get the prospects they need. That is why this is an even trade.
