The Oakland Athletics have traded right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence to the Kansas City Royals in return for minor league righty AJ Causey. This move followed the Athletics’ decision to designate Spence for assignment earlier this week. In preparation for Spence’s arrival, the Royals placed their right-hander Alec Marsh on the 60-day injured list, opening a roster spot.
Mitch Spence Joins Royals Amid Rotation Changes
At 27 years old, Spence quickly found a new team after being designated for assignment by the A’s on Tuesday. He joins the Royals as a bullpen or starting rotation depth option behind an already relatively stable pitching staff. Marsh, who underwent labrum surgery in November, is expected to miss the entire 2026 season, making his move to the 60-day IL procedural.
Spence’s Journey with the Athletics
Spence was originally added by Oakland as a Rule 5 Draft pick from the New York Yankees before the 2024 season. During that year, he became a consistent part of the A’s rotation, logging 151⅓ innings over 35 appearances, with 24 of those as starts. While his ERA hovered in the mid-4.00s and his strikeout totals were below average, he managed to keep walks low and induced an above-average number of ground balls.
Recent Struggles and Role Adjustment
Following the offseason signings of Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino, Spence lost his spot in the starting rotation. For most of the season, he pitched out of the bullpen, making 32 appearances. He briefly returned to the starting rotation in June but struggled with a 5.05 ERA and 11 home runs allowed, which led to a demotion to the minors. Returning to the Athletics in September, Spence gave up nine earned runs over 10 innings to finish his season on a difficult note.
Royals See Versatility in Spence
Kansas City intends to develop Spence primarily as a starter, though they value his bullpen experience as well, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Currently, the Royals have Bailey Falter occupying the swingman role, emphasizing the need for flexible pitching options.
AJ Causey’s Rise Through the Minors
The player heading to Oakland in the swap, AJ Causey, was selected by the Royals in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of Tennessee. The 23-year-old right-hander began his professional career in High-A ball this past season. After posting a 1.56 ERA across 40⅓ innings with Quad Cities, Causey advanced to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he maintained an ERA below 2.00 across 21 games. In total, he recorded a 1.72 ERA with over one strikeout per inning in 48 appearances between the two levels.
Causey’s scouting reports praise his slider and changeup, and his sidearm delivery enhances the effectiveness of his fastball, which sits near 90 mph.
Implications for Both Teams
This trade reflects the Athletics’ willingness to make roster adjustments amid a competitive pitching market and the Royals’ desire for flexible pitching depth. Mitch Spence’s move to Kansas City offers him a fresh start and the opportunity to regain his role as a starter, while AJ Causey provides Oakland with a promising arm rising quickly through the minors. Fans of both teams will be watching closely to see how these players adapt to their new environments in the coming season.
The thought process with acquiring Mitch Spence was 1) the #Royals like his pitching profile but also 2) he has Minor League options and KC is really prioritizing depth this spring/year. He'll build up as a starter but they like that he has MLB starting and relieving experience.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) February 12, 2026
