Jaylon Thompson | Kansas City Star

The Kansas City Royals continued to add pitching depth ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline. After trading left-hander Kris Bubic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Royals continued to reshape their roster before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

KC acquired right-hander Nolan Hoffman from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for 19-year-old prospect Manuel Colon. “We just thought it was good timing for us and where our mindset was,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. Hoffman, 29, was designated for assignment Monday. The Royals quickly worked out a trade to add him to their 40-man roster. In a corresponding move, the club transferred right-hander Connor Seabold to the 60-day injured list. The Royals needed bullpen help. The relief unit has underperformed this season, and injuries have made things even more dire. It’s led to an unsightly 5.40 combined ERA — second-worst in the majors.

Hoffman has spent the majority of the 2026 campaign in the minors. He posted a 4.72 ERA in 34 ⅓ innings with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate. However, he did post 40 strikeouts in a relief role.

“I think with Hoffman, you got the guy that maybe doesn’t have as much power, but he has the different slot,” Picollo said. “A lot of our scouts compared him, when you watch the video, it looks Schreiber-ish. You know, John Schreiber, and John has had a nice career.” The Royals now have two new relief options at their disposal. Hoffman joins fellow right-hander Carlos Duran as the club’s newest acquisitions. Both players could join the big-league club during the upcoming homestand at Kauffman Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Phillies will get a look at Colon. He made 22 appearances in rookie ball and Single-A Columbia this season. He was an international free agent signed during the 2024 cycle. Hoffman has bounced around several organizations. He will start in Triple-A Omaha after making his MLB debut with the Phillies in 2025.