T-Bones acquire former Royals draft pick in ‘blockbuster’ trade with New Jersey

The Kansas City T-Bones announced Friday that they have acquired three players — including former Royals prospect Daniel Rockett — in an eight-player trade with New Jersey of the Can-Am League.

In addition to Rockett, an outfielder the Royals selected in the ninth round of the 2013 draft out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, the T-Bones received shortstop Eddie Newton and pitcher Lee Sosa in exchange for pitchers Evan DeLuca, Sean Furney and Jared Messer, infielder Ryan Retz and a player to be named later.

“We realize that we’re giving up a lot of value here, but sometimes the best trades, especially blockbuster trades like this one, hurt a little,” T-Bones vice-president and general manager Chris Browne said in a release. “In a trade that helps both teams, you have to give up talent in order to get talent.”

Rockett, who played at Class-A Wilmington from 2014-15, hit .372 in 57 games for New Jersey last season.

Newton hit .244 with 50 RBIs in 89 games in 2016, playing for new T-Bones manager Joe Calfapietra. Sosa went 9-6 with a 2.51 ERA in 23 games.

“I am happy to acquire three players that I’m familiar with and who understand my passion for the game,” Calfapietra said in the release.

This story was originally published January 13, 2017 at 5:23 PM with the headline "T-Bones acquire former Royals draft pick in ‘blockbuster’ trade with New Jersey."