On Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals declared their intention to remain in competition for the AL Central by trading RHP Web Obermueller and IF-R Alejandro Machado to Milwaukee for RHP Curtis Leskanic. Despite persistent rumors of a Carlos Beltran or even Jason Grimsley trade, the Royals instead bolstered the third worst bullpen in the game in adding the Brewers' best veteran reliever.

Prior to striking out three Tigers in his debut as an American Leaguer, Leskanic owned a 4-0 record on a 28:18 K:BB in 26.2 IP over 26 G with 22 H, 1 HR, a 1.38 G-F, and a 2.70 ERA for Milwaukee. While he allowed a troublesome .780 OPS against right-handed pitchers this year, he also posted a .527 OPS versus lefties, a skill important to a team that lacks a southpaw in the bullpen.

Kansas City's rotation usually features three lefties in Jeremy Affeldt, Chris George, and Darrell May, along with a combination of right-handers including Runelvys Hernandez, Kyle Snyder, and Jose Lima, depending on the health of each pitcher. In the bullpen, the only constants are fireball rookie Mike MacDougal as the closer and groundball specialist Jason Grimsley as his top set-up man. Rule 5 pick D.J. Carrasco, journeyman Sean Lowe, and swingman Kris Wilson also have spent most of the year in the majors. The Royals have employed several pitchers in the last two spots, including youngsters Jason Gilfannan, Ryan Bukvich, Brad Voyles, Jeremy Hill, and Nate Field, as well as lefties Les Walrond, Rick DeHart, and Scott Mullen. Unfortunately, out of the fifteen relievers who've appeared at least in one game for the Royals in 2003, less than half have pitched decently, and only MacDougal and Lowe have saved the team more than a run above an average AL reliever.

Leskanic should team with Grimsley to provide MacDougal with his best set-up duo since reaching the majors, and as a former closer, he also gives manager Tony Pena welcome flexibility if MacDougal tires late in the season. At his current pace, Leskanic likely will earn $500K in incentives for games pitched in addition to his base salary of $2.6M. However Milwaukee will pay the vast majority of his salary this season as part of the deal, and the Royals should receive a draft pick this off-season if Leskanic departs as a free agent.

Neither Obermueller nor Machado rank as elite prospects, but both could emerge as solid contributors for the Brewers in near future. Although the Milwaukee system suddenly includes several high-upside prospects, the Brewers also lacked an abundance of middle infield prospects and AAA starters capable of pitching even moderately effectively in the majors.

The Royals' second round pick out of the University of Iowa in 1999, Obermueller languished in the lower levels of the system for a couple years, in part due to shoulder surgery in 2001. While he began a second season at A+ Wilmington of the Carolina League in 2002, his dominant performance earned him a promotion after only 8 appearances. In 17 starts at AA Wichita in the Texas League, he posted a 9-5 record on a 65:40 K:BB in 106 IP, and although his skills looked weak, Kansas City still gave him two starts in the majors at the end of the year. Neither start went well.

Obermueller turned 26 in December, and a 62:42 K:BB with 108 H and 11 HR in 106.1 IP over 17 GS at AAA Omaha in the Pacific Coast League this season likely impressed no one. Milwaukee can use him as a starter for their AAA franchise, but if he sticks in the majors it will likely be as a reliever.

Of course, the success of Machado will determine the true winner of this trade. Acquired from the Braves two years ago with Voyles for SS-R Rey Sanchez, the 21-year-old switch-hitter displayed solid batting average and speed upside last season at Wilmington. Promoted to AA Wichita this year, Machado owns a .287/.377/.368 while holding a 34:45 BB:K in 289 at-bats. While I'm disappointed by his limited power production in the great hitter's parks of the Texas League, Machado's primary skills of plate discipline, speed, and defense look solid. He has stolen 19 bases in 28 attempts, but most impressively, he only committed four errors in 75 games in his first extended exposure to second base.

Unless Rule 5 pick 3B-R Enrique Cruz surprisingly develops into an everyday player, the only player in the Brewers' system who looks like a future starter in the middle infield is AA SS-R J.J. Hardy. High-A 2B-R Johnny Raburn looks like a future utilityman, and while A 2B-S Callix Crabbe possesses excellent plate discipline and some speed, he's three years from the majors and can't match Machado defensively. Signing 2003 1st round pick 2B-R Rickie Weeks obviously will add another top prospect to this improving system, however his defensive limitations might force him into the outfield.

By acquiring a prospective second base starter and a respectable AAA starting pitcher in exchange for a pending free agent righty reliever and the cash to pay his contract, Milwaukee improved their minor league depth while negligibly impacting their current major league squad. Leskanic should push the Royals towards the playoffs, and as we're likely to see players like him go for more in coming weeks, Kansas City made a solid deal by spending surplus prospects in an attempt to fix the weakest part of their team.