After acquiring Rene Rivera from the Los Angeles Angels earlier today, the Atlanta Braves made another move acquiring veteran first baseman Lucas Duda, as well as cash considerations, from the Kansas City Royals. According to multiple reports, the Braves will send cash considerations to the Royals or a player to be named later. The two teams have confirmed the move.
#Braves make second move of the day, acquiring Lucas Duda from #Royals for cash considerations. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 29, 2018
The Atlanta #Braves today acquired first baseman Lucas Duda and cash from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Duda will wear No. 20. pic.twitter.com/7cvSiJ8NFH
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 29, 2018
Atlanta Braves Acquire Lucas Duda
Duda’s Career Profile
Drafted by the New York Mets in the 7th round of the 2007 MLB Draft, Duda would make his MLB debut with the Mets in 2010. During that season, Duda would play in twenty-nine games hitting a .202 batting average with four home runs. Duda would spend eight years with the Mets playing in 760 games hitting a .246 batting average with 125 home runs and an astounding 378 RBI. Four days before the 2017 trade deadline, Duda was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitcher Drew Smith. In his one year with the Rays, Duda would play in 52 games hitting a .175 with 13 home runs and 27 RBI. After finishing the season with the Rays, Duda would sign with the Royals. So far, in 80 games, Duda has hit a .242 batting average with 13 home runs and 48 RBI.
Trade Analysis
For the Braves, this seems to be only the beginning of a busy August trade window. With the acquisition of Duda, they gain a powerful bat off the bench and some more veteran experience. Not to mention that Duda has playoff experience as part of the Mets team that went to the World Series in 2015. Duda came close to tasting World Series glory in 2015, and now that he is on a contending team he has a chance to give himself a ring and the city of Atlanta a champion.
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