Ben Zobrist joins the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have acquired utility player Ben Zobrist and cash considerations from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks and left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea.
Zobrist, 34, is hitting .268 with 20 doubles, two triples, six homers and 39 runs scored this season, which includes batting .325 (39-for-122) over his last 36 contests. He’s tied for 10th in the American League this season with 15 go-ahead RBI, while four of his six home runs have given his team the lead. The switch-hitting utility man has started games at second base (33) in left field (24) and right field (two) for the A’s this season.
Zobrist spent the first nine seasons of his career in Tampa Bay before being traded to Oakland in January of this year. He’s a career .264 hitter with 249 doubles, 34 triples, 120 homers and 544 RBI in 1,131 career games. He left Tampa Bay as the franchise’s all-time leader in doubles and walks (542). He’s a two-time All-Star (2009, 2013) and has played every position except for pitcher and catcher in his Major League career. He played in four different postseasons with the Rays (2008, 2010-11, 2013), helping the franchise reach its first World Series in 2008.