KC Royals trade LHP Richard Lovelady, who expressed frustration after being optioned

The Kansas City Royals are trading left-handed relief pitcher Richard Lovelady to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations, the club announced on Thursday.

Lovelady posted a strong 2023 spring performance, allowing only five hits with no earned runs in eight appearances (8.0 IP). He struck out 10 in that time.

Perhaps somewhat related, the move comes less than one week after Lovelady took to social media to express: “What I did never even matters!” That tweet came one day before Lovelady was optioned to Triple-A Omaha along with fellow lefty Josh Taylor and right-hander Josh Staumont.

Lovelady, who did not record any statistics with the big-league club in 2022 after having Tommy John surgery in 2021, has since deleted the tweet.

Lovelady, 27, was drafted in the 10th round by the Royals in 2016. He made 20 appearances in 2021, posting a 3.48 ERA. He made limited appearances with Double-A Northwest Arkansas (one appearance) and Triple-A Omaha (three) last year.