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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 29: Lane Thomas #15 of the Kansas City Royals looks on prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are trading for Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas and pitcher Bailey Falter, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Thomas, who is from Knoxville, TN, is an eight-year big league outfielder who debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals and also spent four seasons with the Washington Nationals. He’s appeared in 96 games for the Royals this season with an overall .717 OPS but has hit left-handed pitchers much better with an .800 OPS against them. His career OPS against left-handed pitchers is .850. For the season he has a 101 wRC+ which is in line with his career totals.
He adds depth to Atlanta’s outfield and becomes a viable platoon partner for Mike Yastrzemski.
As for Falter, he has pitched in only five games with Kansas City this season. The left-hander has had some recent success at Triple-A as MLB.com’s Mark Bowman notes. Falter adds bullpen depth, but could stay at Triple-A barring other moves.
He has historically posted low strikeout totals but has provided slightly above average results, until this season, during his big career that starting in 2021 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s 85 of his career 119 games pitched including a career-high 28 with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024.
Robert Murray reports that pitchers Carter Holton and Lucas Braun are going to the Royals in the deal. Holton was Atlanta’s second round pick in 2024 out of Vanderbilt University but has yet to pitch above A. Braun was the team’s sixth round pick in 2023 and has made nine starts at Triple-A Gwinnett and eight starts at Double-A Columbus.
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