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Jonny Gomes Traded to Royals for Minor League Infielder

By Matthew Schoettler

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Jonny Gomes‘ tenure with the Atlanta Braves was short-lived. The outfielder acquired during the offseason has been traded to the Kansas City Royals for shortstop Luis Valenzuela.

Jonny Gomes was acquired during the offseason before the 2015 season to serve as veteran leadership for an Atlanta Braves team currently in rebuild mode. The trade to the Royals will mark the eighth different team Gomes has played for.

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Jonny Gomes will bring leadership and a capable bat off the bench for the Kansas City Royals, who are once again in another playoff push. In return, the Braves received shortstop Luis Valenzuela, who does not rank in the top 30 in the Royals’ farm system.

Possessing slash line of .223/.327/.368 with seven home-runs and 22 RBI in 82 games with the Atlanta Braves this season, Jonny Gomes will likely be utilized for outfield depth or as a pinch hitter for his new club. Gomes was signed to a one-year deal during the offseason, with a $3 million vesting option for 2016. The Royals pick up a player who has experience in the postseason, and more importantly, he has World Series experience. In 2013, Jonny Gomes won a title with the Boston Red Sox, which could pay dividends for the Royals moving forward.

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Although Luis Valenzuela is not a household name nor a blue-chip prospect, he has turned heads in the 2015 season, splitting time between Rookie Level and Single-A. During the 2015 season, Valenzuela has a slash line of .364/.385/.502, which are very impressive numbers. He projects to help the Atlanta Braves minor league depth at the second base position.

Although Valenzuela could work on improving his strikeout-to-walk ratio, he has demonstrated a plus ability to make contact and steal bases. He currently has nine stolen bases this season in 55 games; moreover, he has also hit four homeruns during that same stretch.

Gomes is a solid player; however for a player who could be a free agent after this season, the Braves made a smart move, as John Hart keeps one eye on the current season and two on the future. It is no guarantee Valenzuela will pan out moving forward, but if he can continue to improve, the Braves may have found an excellent buy-low candidate. This transaction on the final night of August is a typical move by John Hart, trading away one month left of a player for a low-risk, potentially high reward prospect.  

Next: Andrelton Simmons Showing Progress at the Plate During August

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