KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A little more than a week from the delayed season opener, the Royals have traded a reliable bullpen arm to San Diego for a pair of prospects.
Kansas City announced Thursday night that left-hander Tim Hill has been traded to the Padres for outfielder Franchy Cordero and right-hander Roland Bolaños.
We have acquired RHP Ronald Bolaños and OF Franchy Cordero from the San Diego Padres for LHP Tim Hill. #Royals pic.twitter.com/ggkZPCU2KV
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 17, 2020
Hill, a 30-year-old colon cancer survivor originally from California, emerged as the Royals’ top southpaw reliever last season, posting a 3.63 ERA over 39 2/3 innings from the bullpen.
In return, Kansas City landed a left-handed hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic with power in Cordero and a promising right-hander from Cuba in Bolaños.
Cordero, 25, has appeared in 79 big league games during the last three seasons with San Diego. He’s a career .240/.306/.431 hitter with 10 home runs in 246 at-bats. He hit 17 home runs for Class AAA El Paso in 2017.
The Padres signed Bolaños, 23, for $2.25 million in 2016. He debuted with San Diego last season, going 0-2 with a 5.95 ERA in 19 2/3 innings across five appearances, including three starts.
Bolaños made the jump to the majors straight from Class AA last season after going 13-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 130 1/3 innings for Class High-A Lake Elsinore and Class AA Amarillo last season.
Kansas City opens the pandemic-delayed 2020 season on Friday, July 24, at Cleveland.
The Royals also host the Houston Astros for two exhibitions and will play a third exhibition at the St. Louis Cardinals early next week.
