ROYALS ADD OUTFIELDER MAXWELL
The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Justin Maxwell from the Houston Astros for pitcher Kyle Smith.
What does it give the Kansas City Royals
In Maxwell, the Royals get a right-handed outfielder with a lot of tools. He will likely be used in a platoon role in right field (along with lefty-swinging {P David Lough}), and provide a bit of power, some speed and good defense. Maxwell has never been able to put it altogether at the big-league level.
What does it give the Houston Astros
Ranked Kansas City's No. 12 prospect by Baseball America before 2013 began, Smith is an excellent acquisition for the Astros here. Maxwell was a middling outfielder for them but Smith could eventually become a member of the starting rotation. He has great stuff, but the knock on Smith is a lack of size.
Fantasy impact
Smith should be on the fantasy keeper-league radar in most league formats, since he has a great chance of moving up the organizational ladder quickly with the Astros. As for Maxwell, his playing time figures to diminish as a platoon player in Kansas City.
