The Royals made a flurry of moves late in the trade deadline. In the first move made early Monday afternoon, the Royals traded away first baseman/designated hitter Matt Stairs to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Jose Diaz.

Stairs, in his third season with KC, was hitting .261 with eight home runs and 32 RBI. His best year with the team was arguably in 2004 when he hit .267 with 18 homers and 66 RBI.

Moments after moving Stairs, the Royals struck another deal, this time with the Rockies. Kansas City dealt pitchers Jeremy Affeldt and Denny Bautista in exchange for first baseman Ryan Shealy and reliever Scott Dohrmann. Shealy will replace Stairs at first base, and a decision will have to be made once first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz comes off the disabled list.

Related web sites:
Royals Official Website