The Royals and Padres complete a 6-player deal including Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter, and Travis Wood

Kansas City and San Diego have completed a 6-player deal, with the Royals sending Matt Strahm, Travis Wood, and Esteury Ruiz to the Padres while getting Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter, and Trevor Cahill in return.

It’s a trade that makes more sense for the Royals than the Padres as things currently stand, since Kansas City has been looking for pitching depth in the postseason. The Royals are only 1.5 games back from the Cleveland Indians, and with the Indians’ recent stretch of issues, it’s a smart move to shore up the Kansas City rotation and close that gap as soon as possible.

Cahill could be the fifth starter Kansas City needs right now (or even higher in the rotation than that), as he currently has a 3.69 ERA through 11 starts for the Padres. Brandon Maurer (who is a free agent after the 2019 season) has put up an ERA of 5.72 in 42 appearances, notching 20 saves. He is also sporting a 3.23 FIP and a 1.195 WHIP, so while he isn’t throwing sterling stuff this season, he could still certainly be of assistance in the Royals bullpen.

Meanwhile, lefty Ryan Buchter (a free agent after the 2021 season) has a 3.05 ERA with a 1.200 WHIP in 38.1 innings this year, and if he keeps that up, he could make an immediate impact for the Royals.

The trade makes slightly less sense for the Padres, mostly because Matt Strahm is out for the year after having undergone knee surgery for a torn patellar tendon earlier in July. However, he could help San Diego upon his return, as he’s still just 25 years old and finishing up his rookie contract. The Padres could benefit from the Royals’ desire to win now rather than keeping Strahm around for a few more years and see if it works out.

Esteury Ruiz is only 18 and FOX’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Padres scouts were high on the infield prospect after watching him play in the Arizona League, where he was hitting .419 with an OPS of 1.219 as well as a .976 fielding percentage in 2016.

30-year old Travis Wood isn’t having as much success of late, but a change of scenery may be able to knock his 6.91 ERA down a bit. With the Royals paying $7.5 million of his $12 million salary, and with a mutual option for 2019 in his contract, the Padres could luck out if Wood somehow turns things around without taking as much of the financial risk.

This trade also proves what many were wondering as far as whether the Royals would be buyers or sellers at this trade deadline. While Kansas City will definitely be saying goodbye to some of its veterans during the offseason, it’s now clear those farewells will be in the offseason and that everyone is sticking together for one last shot at another World Series.