MLB teams
Jerry Crasnick, ESPN Senior Writer 10y

Danny Valencia heads to Blue Jays

MLB, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays

The Kansas City Royals traded infielder Danny Valencia to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for pitcher Liam Hendriks and catcher Erik Kratz.

Valencia, 29, is a .265 career hitter in parts of five seasons with Minnesota, Boston, Baltimore and Kansas City.

He can play second base and also gives the Blue Jays an option at third while Brett Lawrie recuperates from a fractured right index finger.

The Blue Jays have gone primarily with Munenori Kawasaki and Juan Francisco at third base in Lawrie's absence.

Hendriks, an Australia native, is 3-13 with a 6.06 ERA in parts of four seasons with Minnesota and Toronto. Kratz, 34, has hit .216 with 21 homers in 459 at-bats as a backup with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Toronto since 2010.

^ Back to Top ^