6 times the KC Royals fleeced MLB teams in cash consideration trades

The KC Royals' trade history feels lopsided across the franchise's history, due to a bevy of factors. The Royals seem more experienced in trading away productive players than acquiring impactful returns. The story of the Royals, however, takes an interesting turn when we delve into the realm of cash consideration trades. Seasoned baseball fans are well aware of the trade market's ebbs and flows.

How have the KC Royals leveraged cash consideration trades?

A team trades a player for cash considerations, exchanging the player for a specific amount, unlike a standard player-for-player trade where one team trades another player. Instead, in a cash considerations trade, one team is essentially buying a player from another team.

The cash involved in these trades does not count toward the receiving team's salary cap. This means that the team receiving the cash can use it as they see fit, without it affecting their ability to sign other players due to salary cap restrictions.

The Royals historically have a tight payroll compared to many of their MLB counterparts. Since 2000, Kansas City has never had an Opening Day payroll higher than 15th in the league, with most of their pre-World Series payrolls set in the MLB basement. The 2014 and 2015 Royals proved a team doesn't have to outspend the competition; just spend wisely. That is where those cash consideration trades come in handy.

Let's look at six instances of Kansas City prudently purchasing a player from another team and how those players performed in a Royals uniform.

Honorable Mention: José Bautista
Traded by Tampa Bay Devil Rays on June 28, 2004

It is hard to fault Royals fans who missed José Bautista's brief time in Kansas City. Although primarily known for his prolific years with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bautista's brief stint with the Royals added a unique chapter to his storied career.

Bautista was a frequent flyer on the transaction wire during the season; he played 13 games in Kansas City. After making his MLB debut in 2004 with the Baltimore Orioles, he appeared on four other rosters that same season, becoming the first player to achieve that feat.

Kansas City surely was not the only team to miss out on Bautista's peak. From 2010 to 2015, Bautista had the most home runs in the big leagues. He was also a six-time MLB All-Star, winning three Silver Slugger Awards and two Hank Aaron Awards. In addition, he won five AL Player of the Month awards and four AL Player of the Week awards.

The Blue Jays named Bautista the 11th member of their Level of Excellence, alongside other inspirational former Toronto players. The idea that Kansas City once had him on the roster and traded him away for Justin Huber is painful, but interesting, to say the least.

Gregg Olson
Traded by Cleveland Indians on July 24, 1995

Reliever Gregg Olson was far from an unknown before he came to Kansas City. He won AL Rookie of the Year honors with the Baltimore Orioles in 1989 and was an All-Star the following year. However, his career faced a significant hurdle in 1993 when he suffered a torn elbow ligament, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. It took Olson several years to rebound, but a key step was in Kansas City.

Olson played for the Royals twice in his 14-year career but was only traded to Kansas City in 1995. That was his first stint in a Royals uniform. Olson was not a shutdown reliever, with two blown saves to three saves. But his 20-game stretch in Kansas City saw him begin rounding into his previous form. He had ten shutout appearances, a 3.26 ERA, and a 148 ERA+ across 30 1/3 innings.

Throughout his career, Gregg Olson compiled 217 saves, a 40-39 win-loss record, 588 strikeouts, and a 3.46 ERA in 672 innings pitched. His time with the Royals was a significant part of his career, where he proved that he could still perform at a high level despite past injuries.

His true career resurgence came in 1998 with the brand-new Arizona Diamondbacks. He recorded 30 saves in 64 appearances, the most since his 1993 injury. The fastball lost some zip, but the 32-year-old's curveball and tunneling were honed in. His Kansas City stints were not as dominant as this, but they undoubtedly gave him time and experience back at an elite level.

Mike Armstrong
Traded by San Diego Padres on April 4, 1982

Keeping with the relievers, Mike Armstrong was another workhorse out of the bullpen. The Royals brought the New York native to the Midwest in 1982, where he had a good two-year run.

During his time with the Royals, Armstrong was known as a very dependable reliever. In 1982, he recorded five wins and five losses with a respectable 3.20 ERA and 75 strikeouts across a career-high 112⅔ innings. The following year, he improved his performance, achieving ten wins and seven losses in 58 appearances, marking career highs in wins and games. His overall statistics with the Royals were impressive, with a 15-12 win-loss record and a 3.51 ERA in 110 games.

Armstrong has a strong connection to one of the most notorious Royals games ever. He was the winning pitcher against the New York Yankees in the infamous Pine Tar Game. He pitched two innings in relief, setting up Dan Quisenberry for the eventual save.

Armstrong's career with the Kansas City Royals is remembered for his reliability and effectiveness as a reliever. His ability to log significant innings and maintain a solid ERA contributed to the team's bullpen strength during his tenure. He gave his best and most to Kansas City, logging 64% of his career innings in a Royals uniform.

Domingo Tapia
Traded by Seattle Mariners on May 22, 2021

Domingo Tapia is the last reliever, I promise. From Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tapia made his MLB debut on Sept. 11, 2020, with the Boston Red Sox before joining the Royals.

During his time with the Royals in 2021, Tapia made a solid impact. He posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 31⅔ innings, proving to be a reliable middle-innings reliever. His fastball, averaging over 97 MPH, and his slider, with a high whiff rate, were key components of his arsenal. Tapia's slider, in particular, showed good depth and registered a 34.5% whiff rate while in Kansas City. He also had a streak of 29 consecutive games without allowing a home run, which was the second-longest by a Royal in 2021.

Tapia's stint with the Royals was short-lived, as he was sent to Triple-A Omaha at the start of the 2022 season. Then, he was later designated for assignment in April, following the team's acquisition of Matt Peacock.

Tapia served his purpose well in Kansas City. He was a late bloomer by MLB standards, not making his debut until he was 28 years old. He played for the Oakland Athletics in 2022 and then the San Diego Padres in 2023.

Felipe Paulino
Traded by Colorado Rockies on May 26, 2011

When the Royals acquired Felipe Paulino from the Colorado Rockies, it was confusing. He sported a 0-4 record through 18 games, with an abysmal 7.36 ERA and 2.05 WHIP. But, by season's end, he was well worth whatever cash Kansas City sent to Colorado.

In his first season with Kansas City, Paulino made 20 starts, striking out 119 batters over 124 2/3 innings and finishing with a 4-6 record and a 4.11 ERA. His performance was a significant turnaround from his previous struggles, making him one of the better starting pitchers for the Royals at times. That ERA was the second-best among Royals starters that season, trailing Bruce Chen's 3.77 mark.

The 2012 season started with Paulino on the injured list due to a right elbow strain. Despite this, he managed to make a strong comeback, achieving a 3-1 record with a 1.67 ERA over seven starts. Unfortunately, a serious elbow injury that necessitated Tommy John surgery cut short his season. The Royals re-signed him for the 2013 season, but a major setback kept him off the roster. He was later designated for assignment and elected free agency.

Paulino's career with the Kansas City Royals was a mix of high potential and unfortunate injuries. While he occasionally excelled on the mound, the time he spent recovering from surgeries ultimately overshadowed his time with the team.

Richie Scheinblum
Traded by Texas Rangers on October 21, 1971

When Richie Scheinblum made his MLB debut against the Kansas City Athletics in 1965, it was a momentous day for the undrafted outfielder. It was just the start of Scheinblum's eight-year career, with two stops in a Royals uniform.

Scheinblum played for Kansas City in 1972 and 1974, arriving both times via trade. His arrival ahead of the 1972 season was not a splashy move at all, but he peaked immediately for the Royals. Scheinblum's lone All-Star season came in 1972, when he played a career-high 134 games. His .300 batting average ranked sixth in the AL, while his .383 on-base percentage ranked fifth. His bat was a significant factor in his selection as one of five Royals players named to the All-Star team that year.

Scheinblum's biggest impact in Kansas City likely has to do with his first departure. The Royals traded him and pitcher Roger Nelson to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Wayne Simpson and future World Series champion Hal McRae. Kansas City undoubtedly won that trade, acquiring a future Royals Hall of Fame player in McRae.

During his tenure with the Royals, Scheinblum played 170 games, had 611 plate appearances, and accumulated 150 hits, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, and 68 RBIs, with a batting average of .281. His overall career statistics include a .263 batting average, 13 home runs, and 127 RBIs.