Kansas City, MO – In a flurry of activity leading up to Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, the Kansas City Royals made several moves to retool their roster, with a clear focus on strengthening their pitching depth. Among the key transactions, the Royals announced the trade of catcher Freddy Fermin to the San Diego Padres in exchange for two right-handed starting pitchers, Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek.
Fermin, a 30-year-old native of Venezuela, had been a reliable backup catcher for the Royals since joining the team in 2022. This season, he posted a .255 batting average with three home runs and 12 runs batted in.
In return, the Royals acquire two promising arms. Stephen Kolek, a sinkerball pitcher, is in his second major league season. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 and later traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2021, Kolek was a Rule 5 Draft pick by the Padres in December 2023 and made their 2024 Opening Day roster.
Ryan Bergert, 25, made his major league debut this season after being drafted by the Padres in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2020 season but has shown strong form this year, boasting a 1-0 record with a 2.78 ERA in 11 appearances, including seven starts where he allowed three or fewer runs in each outing.
The trade of Fermin was part of a busier deadline day for the Royals. Just before 5 p.m. CT, the club also acquired left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter from the Pittsburgh Pirates for left-hander Evan Sisk and infielder Callan Moss. Falter, 28, has started 22 games for the Pirates this season, recording a 3.73 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 113.1 innings.
Rounding out their deadline day acquisitions, the Royals also announced they had traded right-handed pitcher Yunior Marte to the San Francisco Giants for veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. Yastrzemski, 34, has appeared in 97 games this season for the Giants, hitting .231 with eight home runs and 14 doubles, primarily playing right field.
These moves signal the Royals’ intent to bolster their pitching staff and add veteran experience to their lineup as they navigate the remainder of the season.
