Major League Baseball

Royals ship disgruntled Crow to Marlins for two minor leaguers

Published Nov. 28, 2014 12:47 p.m. ET

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Less than two weeks after complaining about not being on the Royals' postseason rosters, former first-round pick Aaron Crow is now a former Royal. Kansas City traded him Friday to the Miami Marlins for minor-league pitchers Reid Redman and Brian Flynn.

Crow, the 12th overall pick of the 2009 draft, was an All-Star during his rookie season in 2011, when he posted a 2.76 ERA in 57 appearances.

But Crow's career began to hit a wall in the second half of 2013, when several ineffective appearances eventually cost him his set-up role. He finished with a 3.38 ERA but had an unsightly 1.49 WHIP and was barely used in September that season.

This year was even worse. He allowed a career-high 10 homers and had a career-worst 4.12 ERA.

Crow, 28, was left off the American League Division Series, AL Championship Series and World Series playoff rosters, which apparently didn't sit well with him as he also watched the Royals' celebrated Three-Headed Monster get a lot of national attention.

"From my standpoint, hearing Kelvin (Herrera), Wade (Davis) and Greg (Holland) get all the attention they got, if you're competitive at all, you're going to get a little jealous of that," Crow told MLB.com on Nov. 13.

"I was a big part of the bullpen for most of the year. During the playoffs, you get days off so those guys could pitch every (game). But during the regular season, those guys needed days off and you needed other guys to come in and get the job done. And I was the guy that was called on more often than not.

"And some of the guys that made the postseason roster weren't in the big leagues hardly at all this season, they really didn't help us get to the point where we were, so it kind of bothered me a little bit."

Those comments likely didn't sit well with Royals officials.

Crow did concede he was responsible for not making the playoff rosters.

"I pitched poorly at the end of the year, so there's nobody to blame but myself," he said. "Going into next year, I definitely want to get better and be a part of that roster next year."

That won't happen now.

Crow made $1,475,000 in 2014 and is arbitration-eligible again.

Redman, 26, originally was drafted by Tampa Bay as an infielder out of Texas Tech. He hit .265 with two homers in one season in the Rays' minor-league system before the Rays suddenly released him.

The Marlins signed him and converted him to pitcher. In 44 relief appearances last season between Class A and Class AA, Redman, a right-hander, had a 2.04 ERA, striking out 68 in 61 2/3 innings.

Flynn, a 6-foot-7 left-hander, is a Wichita State product originally drafted by the Tigers in 2011. He has a career 3.49 ERA in the minors.

Also on Friday, the Royals re-signed right-handed reliever Jason Frasor. After being obtained in a trade with the Rangers in July, Frasor posted a 1.53 ERA in 23 games. With Crow's departure, Frasor figures to be an even more important part of the Royals' middle bullpen.

Frasor signed a one-year deal for $1.25 million with a $2 million mutual option in 2016 and a $550,000 buyout.

In yet another deal, the Royals acquired Dodgers infielder Ryan Jackson on Wednesday for cash considerations. Jackson, an original 2009 draft pick of the Cardinals, can play second base and third base.

Jackson, 26, is 6-3, 180 pounds. He was called up by the Cardinals in 2012 and 2013, hitting just .083 in 24 at-bats.

Jackson recently was designated for assignment by the Dodgers.

You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.

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