The Giants traded RHP Kevin Pucetas to the Royals over the weekend as the player-to-be-named later in an earlier deal in which San Francisco acquired outfielder Jose Guillen from Kansas City.
Pucetas is an area native who played his high school baseball at Broome and then pitched at Limestone College.
Pucetas had spent his entire professional career in the Giants' farm system since the team drafted him in the 17th round of the 2006 draft.
He spent the past two season pitching at Class AAA Fresno, where he went 15-13 with a 5.34 ERA in 54 starts. His marginal record at that level, combined with a deep, and relatively young, pitching staff on the Major League level for the Giants, apparently prevented him from getting a significant shot to compete on the big club.
Prior to his arrival at AAA in 2009 he was a participant in the 2008 All-Star Futures Game during a season at Class A San Jose in which he went 10-2 with a 3.02 ERA and was named the California League Pitcher of the Year. In 2007, he was 15-4 with a 1.87 ERA in 27 games as Class A Augusta in the South Atlantic League.
Pucetas' father, Randy Pucetas, says Kansas City General Manager Dayton Moore indicated to his son that the team had pursued him for two years.
Pucetas was added to the Royals' 40-man roster, an important note, as he would be eligible to become a Rule 5 free agent later this fall if that weren't the case.
The Royals finished last in the American League Central this past season with a 67-95 record. Their starting rotation includes 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zach Greinke and former first round draft pick Luke Hochevar at the top. Veteran, and former Brave, Kyle Davies is expected to return next season and the team is trying to hang-on to potential free agent lefty Bruce Chen, the former Brave and G-Brave, who had an impressive comeback season and led the team with 12 wins.
The Kansas City Star, in assessing the direction for the Royals in 2011, indicates the team is likely looking to identify a fifth starter and, like all major league teams, will try to tweak its bullpen.
The Royals are an organization that is trying to build from within and the Star indicates there are several prospects, both pitchers and postion players, nearing the Major League level in terms or readiness.
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