Royals Bump Matt Treanor to Texas, Set up Sal Perez for Spike in Value

With Jason Kendall still recovering from shoulder surgery at the end of spring training this year, the Royals snagged catcher Matt Treanor from the Rangers for cash.

Wednesday afternoon, they gave him back to Texas.

No doubt, the Royals are encouraged by the play of Salvador Perez, who has had a fine start to his big league career at the age of 21.  They must be comfortable enough with Brayan Pena‘s play to keep him as a veteran backup.  In 65 games and 219 plate appearances, Pena has a .653 OPS and has thrown out 36% of would-be basestealers in 2011.

Treanor had a fairly memorable season for the Royals in 2011, making a good impression with a game-winning three-run homer in the third game of the season.  He saw an unexpected spike in walks and was among the league leaders in on base percentage for catchers.

Treanor has been on the disabled list since being concussed* by a Matt LaPorta tackle at the plate on July 30 and was rehabbing in Double A.

*standard Kings of Kauffman celebration of that word applies