ROYALS LAND BACKUP CATCHER TONY CRUZ
The Kansas City Royals acquired catcher Tony Cruz from the St. Louis Cardinals for infielder Jose Alexander Martinez.
What does it give the Kansas City Royals
For the Royals, this deal lands them a capable backup receiver for talented starter Salvador Perez. With Cruz in the fold, look for Perez to get a little more rest in 2016. This is a solid move by the World Series champs.
What does it give the St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals deemed Cruz expendable after signing veteran backup catcher Brayan Pena recently. Pena is a slight upgrade, so the team is happy with this deal even if Jose Martinez is a long, long way away from MLB.
Fantasy impact
Cruz will continue to serve as a backup catcher in Major League Baseball, so his fantasy value is completely tied to Perez' health. Martinez isn't on the fantasy radar yet but perhaps in a few years he will be.
