Orioles acquire Heasley from Royals

Two weeks after signing their closer for the 2024 season, the Orioles made another pitching move via a trade.

The Orioles have acquired right-hander Jonathan Heasley from the Royals in exchange for Dominican Summer League right-hander Cesar Espinal.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the deal, and the team just announced it.

Heasley, who turns 27 next month, made 12 relief appearances with the Royals this year and posted a 7.20 ERA and 1.267 WHIP in 15 innings. He made three starts in 2021 and 21 the following season before moving to the bullpen.

Heasley has gone 5-11 with a 5.45 ERA and 1.436 WHIP in 133 2/3 major league innings and averaged only 5.7 strikeouts. The 13^th-round pick in 2018 out of Oklahoma State University has registered a 4.43 ERA and 1.304 WHIP in 100 games in the minors, including 76 starts.

The numbers this year weren’t impressive at Triple-A Omaha, where Heasley had a 6.85 ERA and 1.616 WHIP in 32 games (15 starts).

The Royals recalled and sent down Heasley twice this season. He has one minor league option left.

This is the corresponding move for Kansas City after signing free-agent starter Michael Wacha, which became official this afternoon.

The Orioles have 38 players on their 40-man roster and likely remain in the market for a starter. Heasley increases the pitching depth in the rotation and bullpen.

Espinal, 18, signed as an international free agent in June 2022. He isn’t ranked on any prospect lists.

He spent the 2023 season with the DSL Orange team, allowing 12 runs and 29 hits and striking out 34 batters in 34 innings over nine games. Espinal surrendered 12 earned runs and walked 14 batters in 19 2/3 innings over 11 relief appearances in the DSL in 2022.

Craig Kimbrel represented the Orioles’ most recent transaction, agreeing on Dec. 6 to a $12 million contract that includes a $13 million option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said at the Winter Meetings that the club might bring in another reliever.