Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

A's Trade IF/OF Ben Zobrist to Kansas City

A's Acquire RHP Aaron Brooks and Minor League LHP Sean Manaea

The Oakland A's traded infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist and cash considerations to the Kansas City Royals for right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks and minor league left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea, the club announced today.

Zobrist was batting .268 with six home runs and 33 RBI in 67 games with the A's. He hit .202 over his first 31 games but is batting .325 in 36 games since then. Zobrist made 33 starts at second base, 24 in left field, four at designated hitter and two in right field. He did not commit an error in 34 games overall at second base. Zobrist was acquired by the A's from Tampa Bay Jan. 10, 2015 with Yunel Escobar for John Jaso, Daniel Robertson, Boog Powell and cash.

Brooks has spent most of the season at Triple-A Omaha where he is 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 18 games, including 17 starts. He also made two appearances with Kansas City and has allowed three runs on six hits in 4.1 innings for a 6.23 ERA. The 25-year-old right-hander last pitched for the Royals June 21 and has gone 2-2 with a 4.29 ERA in six starts with Omaha since then. Brooks was the Royals ninth round pick in the 2011 draft and is 0-1 with a 20.57 ERA in four career appearances with Kansas City. He will be assigned to Triple-A Nashville.

Manaea began the season in extended spring training and went a combined 1-1 with a 3.69 ERA in seven starts with the Royals affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League, Single-A Wilmington and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He struck out 39 batters in 31.2 innings. The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher was selected by the Royals in the Competitive Balance round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft and was rated as the Royals third best prospect by Baseball America prior to the season. Manaea went 7-8 with a 3.11 ERA in 25 starts for Wilmington in his professional debut last year and led the Carolina League with 146 strikeouts.

Read More: Oakland Athletics