KANSAS CITY -- First baseman Lucas Duda was traded after the Royals' 9-2 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday to the Braves for cash considerations, just two days before Friday night's deadline for traded players to be postseason eligible.
Duda, signed as a free agent during Spring Training, is on the tail end of a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Per a source, the Braves will take on $300,000 of Duda's salary. No international money was included.
"I'm a little surprised," the 32-year-old said. "I've grown close to the guys here. Since I got here, it's been a first-class organization from top to bottom. It's just another page in your career, so I'm glad to go over to a situation in Atlanta and compete for a playoff spot.
"I've been traded before, and I kind of know the logistics of it. I can't say enough about the front office here -- [manager] Ned [Yost], his staff. Great baseball people, but even better people, to boot. A first-class organization top to bottom."
The trade opens up one spot on the 40-man roster, which the Royals will need in order to reinstate Jorge Soler off the 60-day disabled list early next week. Soler presently is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha.
Duda played in 86 games for the Royals and hit .242 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs. He also had a .415 slugging percentage. Yost praised Duda's defense throughout the season.
Duda was a candidate to be traded prior to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline but no deal materialized.
"Yeah, there was always a chance [to get traded then]," Duda said. "Obviously I wasn't hitting real well, so that's a big culprit. But it is what it is. I'm going to go there and play hard and try to fit in and see what happens."
Duda said he wasn't sure when he would arrive in Atlanta, which plays Thursday.
"I'm not sure. ... I'm excited," he said.
The Royals have previously traded Jonathan Jay, Kelvin Herrera and Mike Moustakas as they launch a full-scale rebuild.