It could be a small step for the Royals, but a giant step for the Royals future. Making his presence felt early, new General Manager Dayton Moore traded pitcher J.P. Moore to the Devil Rays for outfielder Joey Gathright and a minor-league infielder.
Gathright, one of baseball’s fastest players, is expected to join the team tonight and start in center field. The speedy outfielder has been in and out of the majors trying to win time in a young crowded Tampa Bay outfield.
The deal might implicate the direction Moore is going with this franchise choosing speed and defense over offense. Gathright is a career .244 hitter with 38 steals in 150 games over parts of three seasons.