Red Sox trade reliever Schreiber to Royals

The Kansas City Royals acquired right-hander John Schreiber from the Boston Red Sox for pitching prospect David Sandlin, they announced Saturday.

Schreiber gives the Royals a high-leverage reliever in a bullpen without a definitive closer. Earlier in the offseason, the club signed veteran left-hander Will Smith, who owns 113 career saves.

"Someone had talked to me about me being in trade rumors, so it's a little less surprising to hear I got traded," Schreiber told MassLive's Chris Cotillo. "But I'm excited about this opportunity and excited to get over there in Kansas City and compete my ass off. That's my main goal."

The 29-year-old Schreiber authored a 2.90 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 over 111 appearances for the Red Sox between 2021-23.

Schreiber, who's arbitration-eligible through the 2026 campaign, should help a Kansas City bullpen that tied for the second-worst fWAR in baseball last season.

Kansas City placed right-hander Kyle Wright on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot for Schreiber.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Sandlin posted a 3.65 ERA with 79 strikeouts over 66 2/3 innings (14 starts) between two Single-A levels in 2023. The young right-hander's fastball tops out in the upper 90s, and he projects to be a starting pitcher.