Breaking MLB Trade: Royals & Diamondbacks Complete Swap Mid-Game

It's that time of the year when players never know if they'll finish a game with the same team they started it with. The trade deadline is now less than a week away, and for Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk, he was told mid-game Saturday night that he'd been traded to the Kansas City Royals.

Randal Grichuk was just informed he was traded to the Royals in the middle of the game.

Teammates came over to wish him farewell.

Such is life for the #Dbacks as sellers at the deadline.@12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/xnIYlJESqJ
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) July 27, 2025

The Royals then posted on social media an announcement that they have sent right-handed pitcher Andrew Hoffmann to the Snakes in exchange.

We have acquired OF Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Andrew Hoffmann.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 27, 2025

Grichuk had gone 0-for-2 in tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates before being pulled in the 5th inning, and told to pack his things. The 12-year veteran right-handed batter was playing largely in a platoon role this season, facing mainly lefties, and batting .243 with a .743 OPS and seven homers.

Grichuk has a career .252 average with a 104 OPS+.

Hoffmann, 25, made his major league debut this season with the Royals, having made three appearances, none of them too impressive. He will be assigned to Triple-A Reno by the Diamondbacks.

He had shown promise this season at Triple-A Omaha with a 2.25 ERA in 40 innings, after two poor seasons at the AAA level in 2023 and '24. But a new change-up may have turned his career around.