Arizona Diamondbacks trade P Luke Weaver to Kansas City Royals

The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for third baseman Emmanuel Rivera, the team announced Monday.

Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro first reported the news.

In a corresponding move, the D-backs recalled right-handed pitcher Taylor Widener from Triple-A Reno for Monday afternoon’s game.

In 63 games this year for Kansas City, Rivera is hitting .237 with six home runs and 22 RBIs. The 26-year-old was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday and made his MLB debut in June of 2021.

Weaver, 28, joined catcher Carson Kelly as the bulk of the return when the D-backs dealt star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2019 season.

Despite Weaver’s first season in Arizona resulting in a superb 2.94 ERA across 12 starts, it has been a struggle for him in Arizona through a couple of different injuries.

Weaver went on to make a dozen starts in 2020 for a 6.58 ERA and then 13 more last season with a 4.25 ERA. He was moved into a relief role this season, where Weaver has thrown 16.1 innings in 12 appearances for a 7.71 ERA.

Weaver makes $2.8 million this season and has one more year of control left for the 2023 season before he would become a free agent.

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