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- Royals acquire veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk in deal with the Diamondbacks</p>
<p>DAVID BRANDT July 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM</p>
<p>1 / 3Royals Diamondbacks BaseballArizona Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk connects for an inside-the-park home run against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)</p>
<p>PHOENIX (AP) — The Kansas City Royals acquired veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, signaling that the franchise is willing to be a buyer to stay in the playoff hunt.</p>
<p>The D-backs added right-hander Andrew Hoffmann, who has made three appearances for the Royals this season out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old was selected in the 12th round of the 2021 draft by the Braves.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old Grichuk has played the past 1 1/2 seasons for the D-backs, with the club using his right-handed bat mostly against left-handed pitching.</p>
<p>The move was a sign that the Royals still believe they can make the playoffs in the American League. Kansas City has a 51-54 record and is 4 1/2 games back for the final wild-card spot.</p>
<p>"He plays the game the right way, plays hard and he's been doing it for a long time and I think he's going to help us," Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. said.</p>
<p>News of the trade came in the middle of Arizona's 2-0 loss in Pittsburgh. Grichuk was pulled from the game in the fifth inning and could be seen hugging teammates in the dugout.</p>
<p>Grichuk was 0 for 2 on Saturday night in Arizona's 2-0 loss, flying out in the second inning and flying out in the fourth. He's batting .240 with seven home runs this season in 71 games.</p>
<p>"I was a little bit sad, right?" said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who had never had a player traded during a game before in his nine seasons on the job. "It's hard to say goodbye to someone that's been a big part of this organization for a year and a half."</p>
<p>Grichuk has 210 career homers over a 12-year career that's also included time with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Rockies and Angels.</p>
<p>The move comes two days after the Diamondbacks shipped first baseman Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners for two pitching prospects.</p>
<p>Right-handers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly and third baseman Eugenio Suarez also are on expiring contracts and could be dealt before Thursday's trade deadline. Kelly (9-6) took the loss Saturday despite giving up just two runs in 6 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>Kelly has spent his entire seven-year career with Arizona after starring in the Korean Baseball Organization. He grew up in the Phoenix area.</p>
<p>"I definitely acknowledge that anything could happen in the next couple of days," Kelly said. "I have always loved being here, but I understand the business side of the game, too."</p>
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<p>AP freelance writers John Perrotto in Pittsburgh and Cody Friesen in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report.</p>
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<p>AP MLB: https://ift.tt/INBThaK>
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