KC Royals: Jarrod Dyson is headed to the Blue Jays

Just over four years ago, in the middle of baseball’s winter and only a season removed from helping the KC Royals win the 2015 World Series, Jarrod Dyson found himself traded to Seattle. The January 2017 deal brought Nate Karns to Kansas City, where an injury limited him to nine games.

Stops with the Diamondbacks, Pirates and White Sox followed for Dyson. Then, in a surprise move during spring training this year, the Royals brought Dyson back, presumably to steal bases and back up the club’s everyday outfielders. While the Royals’ reunion with the former Kansas City fan favorite came with no warning, it wasn’t shocking considering KC had re-signed reliever Greg Holland, who returned to the team in 2020, and also signed former Royals Wade Davis and Ervin Santana during the offseason. All are still with the club.

But Dyson isn’t. He’s now a Blue Jay after Toronto, as reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray (Twitter link), claimed him off waivers today. The move also appears on Kansas City’s transactions listing.

Dyson not lasting the season with the Royals was predictable. Although he can still run—he swiped eight bases in 11 attempts this year—the best of his career is behind him, he was always going to be a limited to backup and bit roles and, at 37, the chances of him returning to Kansas City next season ranked somewhere between slim and none.

That’s not to say Dyson didn’t contribute this season. He did, appearing in over half (77) of the team’s 127 games through Thursday, and serving valuable spot starter and late-inning defensive replacement roles in the outfield. He occasionally pinch ran in close games.

Dyson finishes the KC portion of his 2021 season with an unremarkable .221/.256/.311 line, but the still-fleet and capable outfielder committed only one error in 99 chances.

In parts of eight seasons with Kansas City, Dyson hit a serviceable .257 with seven homers, 111 RBIs, and 184 of his career 264 stolen bases.

How will the KC Royals fill Jarrod Dyson’s spot on their active roster?

With whom Kansas City fills the roster vacancy Dyson’s departure creates is unknown at this writing. The Royals could recall Edward Olivares, who’s hit .246 in his several stints with them this season; Kyle Isbel, who made the Opening Day roster and stuck with the club and hit .265 in 12 games before heading back to Triple-A Omaha in late April, is also a possibility. The club might even take a look at rising star Rudy Martin.

The KC Royals face the Mariners tonight in a 9:10 p.m. CDT road game. But they’ll play without Jarrod Dyson, who’s now a Blue Jay.