Royals Acquire Hunter Harvey for Wild-Card Push

The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey from the Washington Nationals, aiming to strengthen their bullpen as they vie for an American League wild-card spot. In exchange, the Nationals received third baseman Cayden Wallace, a top Royals prospect, and the 39th pick in the upcoming MLB draft. Harvey, who has a 4.20 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 45 innings this season, will not be a free agent until after the 2025 season, providing the Royals with longer-term bullpen stability. Wallace, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, has shown promise with a .282 average and .777 OPS in Double-A but has struggled with injuries. The trade enhances the Nationals' draft position and signals their intent to be sellers as the trade deadline approaches.