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Royals Acquire RHP Mitch Spence From Athletics for Prospect A.J. Causey

Spence arrives with two minor-league options, giving Kansas City flexible pitching depth.

Overview

  • Kansas City announced the trade sending A.J. Causey to Oakland for Mitch Spence and placed Alec Marsh on the 60-day injured list following shoulder surgery.
  • Spence, 27, was designated for assignment earlier this week after posting a 5.10 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 84.2 innings across 32 games (eight starts) in 2025.
  • The right-hander previously stuck with Oakland as a 2023 Rule 5 pick and recorded a 4.58 ERA in 35 games in 2024, including 24 starts and 151.1 innings.
  • He has two option years remaining and experience starting and relieving, featuring a cutter-centric mix with a slider, curve and sinker, an 83rd-percentile chase rate last year, and a 46% career groundball rate.
  • Causey, a 2024 fifth-round pick, strengthens the Athletics’ prospect pool after a 1.72 ERA in 48 relief outings across High-A and Double-A with 75 strikeouts and 18 walks in 73.1 innings.