BREAKING: A's Acquire Streaking Starter Homer Bailey From Royals
By Michael Luciano
After years of either missing pretty much the entire season or being laughably ineffective when he did pitch, former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey has reinvented himself and restored his value as a Kansas City Royal. After 12 years as a Red, Bailey posted a 7-6 record with a 4.80 ERA in 18 starts.
His Royals career has come to a close, however, as Bailey was traded to the Oakland Athletics.
Starter Homer Bailey has been traded to Oakland from Kansas City, sources tell ESPN. He's making the minimum, so the A's will pay him only $250,000 or so for the remainder of the season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 14, 2019
The Royals will receive Oakland's No. 17 prospect in utility player Kevin Merrell. Merrell, drafted with a compensatory pick in 2017, is hitting a roadblock in 2019, hitting .246 at Double-A Midland.
Oakland has acquired RHP Homer Bailey from Kansas City in exchange for MiLB IF Kevin Merrell.
— AthleticsPR (@AthleticsPR) July 14, 2019
Bailey is 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA (16 ER, 43.0 IP) with 37 strikeouts in his last 8 starts.
Bailey will be replaced on the mound Sunday by Brian Flynn.
Bailey's raw numbers may look uninspiring, but his 3.49 ERA in his last seven starts shows how he has been able to become a somewhat effective starting pitcher even after losing his top-shelf velocity.
#Royals have scratched Homer Bailey from today’s start. Source says trade imminent. Bailey 3.49 ERA last seven starts.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 14, 2019
With promising young starter Frankie Montas suspended for the majority of the remainder of the season due to PEDs, the swingin' A's needed a pitcher or two before gaining confidence that they can make a push at the playoffs.