Why the Royals traded for new pitcher Hunter Harvey, and what it cost to get him

When asked at various times this year about the trade deadline, Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has remained steadfast in identifying two objectives.

Picollo wants to help the Royals win this season and in years to come. He believes that was accomplished Saturday night when the Royals acquired right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals.

The Royals paid a steep price, sending minor league infielder Cayden Wallace, their No. 2 prospect according to MLB.com, and the 39th pick of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, in Competitive Balance Round A.

The Royals have a 52-44 record and are seven games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. They’re just one game behind Boston for the final Wild Card spot.

So the playoffs are on the mind of Picollo, who outlined the plan for Harvey.

“He adds great depth. It’s not something where we’re going to say, ‘Hey, he’s our closer starting tomorrow.’ That’s not the case,” Picollo said. “Our goal all along was to have a deeper bullpen. Mac (closer James McArthur) has done a great job in the ninth inning here over the last few weeks, and we’re happy with what he’s doing. But I think it’s something we just put them back there.

“It’s going to be meaningful outs and we let it evolve over the course of the year. And however it ends up, it’s going to be in the best interest of the team, and we’ll be better off for it. But the depth was certainly the focus for us and having more options at the back end of the game.”

Harvey, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles (2013 MLB Draft). He has pitched in 43 games this season and has 26 holds, which is tied for the most in Major League Baseball. He has 50 strikeouts in 45 innings, a 4.20 ERA and a 1.222 WHIP.

That ERA took a hit thanks to three rough outings since June 6, in which Harvey allowed 10 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

“He’s actually had a tough month of June,” Picollo said. “But if you look back, it’s really three games that it got away from it a little bit. But you look around all the other appearances, I think to this point, it’s the most appearances he’s had in his career going into a break.

“So I think there’s gonna be some signs of fatigue, so we weren’t concerned with that at all. Our advanced metrics project really well on what he’ll do the second half of the year.”

How the Royals made the trade

Harvey, who signed a one-year, $2.35 million contract before the season, is arbitration eligible next season.

That was a big selling point for Picollo, who acknowledged what the Royals gave up to get Harvey.

“Part of what we’re trying to do is not only think about 2024 but also years moving forward,” Picollo said. “It was really important that if we were going to give up high-end talent like Cayden Wallace or a comp pick, it was going to have to be for somebody that had more than half a year of control. And we stuck to our guns and that was definitely a big part of the equation.”

Picollo said the Royals and Nationals had been talking for a few weeks, but it was important to seal the deal before the MLB Draft starts Sunday.

Trading away a comp pick wasn’t easy.

“I have a ton of respect for all of our scouts and everything they do,” Picollo said. “They travel all around the country trying to identify and get to know the most talented players that are available in the draft. ...

“But at the same time, we’re focused on trying to win major-league games and we have to be creative and use all means that we could possibly have to acquire talent to help our big-league team. If our team was not in a position that they’re in right now, it may not be a deal that we make, you know, so we needed to feel good that we were upgrading our major-league team to consider giving up this comp pick.”

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated pitcher Nick Anderson for assignment. Anderson had a 4.15 ERA in 36 games this season.