ROYALS LAND INFIELD HELP
The Kansas City Royals acquired shortstop Tony F. Pena from the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Erik Cordier.
What does it give the Kansas City Royals
While the Royals didn't land an offensive dynamo, Pena is a bit of a defensive wizard. That gives the club a big upgrade over the massively disappointing Angel Berroa. His bat won't help them much at all. Although he made some strides in making contact last year at Triple-A, his plate discipline remains a problem. But when he does get on base, he can run well.
What does it give the Atlanta Braves
Cordier gives the Braves a cautiously promising young righty. We say "cautiously" because he had Tommy John surgery last fall and won't pitch competitively again until next spring. Before the injury, he had blazing, 98-mph heat and the ability to command three quality pitches. He had top-of-the-rotation potential, but clearly the Royals were ready to give up on him at the tender age of 21. If he comes back as strong or stronger than ever, the Royals may regret this one.
Fantasy impact
