A few hours after announcing they would bring back one of their franchise core players on a one-year deal, the Royals made a move Monday evening that could clear space to bring back another.
They traded first baseman and outfielder Brandon Moss and left-handed reliever Ryan Buchter to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for right-handed pitchers Jesse Hahn and Heath Fillmyer. The Royals also cleared $5 million of Moss’ salary in the trade.
“The economic part of it is very real to us,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore told The Star.
First baseman Eric Hosmer, who became a free agent after seven seasons with the Royals, is still unsigned.